John Ellis
Question:42 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Health the programme for funding of the hospice movement for the coming years. [5898/96]
Written Answers. - Hospice Funding.
Limerick East): The programme for funding of the hospice movement for the coming years will depend on the availability of development funds for the health services overall. The extent of this availability has yet to be decided.
As the Deputy is aware, a policy statement on cancer care services is currently in preparation in my Department, incorporating a review of the role played by the hospice care services throughout the country in respect of cancer patients and setting out recommendations for its future development. When the proposals of the review group are to hand, I will be in a position to make decisions on priority areas for development within the hospice care sector.