Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 October 2013
195. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that funding for children's hospices (details supplied) will not be cut in Budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42868/13]
View answerThe Children's Sunshine Home (now operating under the title of LauraLynn House) has provided specialist disability services to children with severe disabilities since 1925. It is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE), under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004, to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The HSE will continue to work closely with voluntary service providers including LauraLynn House, service users and their families to ensure available resources are used in a creative and flexible manner in order to be responsive to the needs that present. The Health Service as a whole has to operate within the parameters of funding available to it and given the current economic environment, this has become a major challenge for all including the HSE, voluntary service providers, service users and their families. The level of funding available for the health budget and the extent of the savings required in the health sector are being considered as part of the estimates and budgetary process for 2014, which is currently underway. Pending completion of the national estimates, budgetary and service planning process for 2014, it is not possible to predict the service levels to be provided next year for the disability sector.
