Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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187. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of delivering 30 new public palliative care beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18536/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, to date specialist palliative care inpatient units have been constructed with funding raised by local voluntary organisations, while the HSE provides fit-out costs.

Capital costs for a specialist palliative care unit will vary dependent on a number of factors including location, number of beds and levels of additional services provided. New units may include space for the Palliative Community Homecare Team, Day Care, treatment rooms and pharmacy, family accommodation, kitchen and canteen, staff room, administration, education and meeting rooms and, where relevant, external groundworks/landscaping.

Based on the revenue costs of new specialist palliative care inpatient beds in Mayo, Waterford and Wicklow opened in 2020/2021, the average revenue funding required to operate a specialist palliative care bed is approximately €266,000 per annum.

Finally, the locations for new inpatient units have been identified in line with national policy and the HSE's Palliative Care Development Framework 2017-2019, with units ranging from 15-36 beds.