Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 1996

Vol. 464 No. 1

Written Answers. - Galway Hospice.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

68 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health when he intends to visit the Galway Hospice facility; when he will announce the decision regarding funding of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7735/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan

, Limerick East): I have already indicated in previous statements that it is my intention to visit the Galway hospice as soon as my schedule of commitments allows.

A policy statement on cancer care services is currently in preparation in the Department and it will include a review of the role played by the hospice-palliative care service throughout the country in respect of cancer patients in particular and set 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 palliative care sector as a whole. The possibility of funding for the Galway hospice will then be examined in that context.