Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1714. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a pre-Budget submission by an organisation (details supplied) that seeks an investment of €1.75 million to provide the best end-of-life and bereavement care for all in budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40071/22]
View answerMy Department and I received a pre-budget submission from the Irish Hospice Foundation which will be considered ahead of budget 2023.
I am committed to the continued development and expansion of palliative care services across the country in line with the programme for government. €2.4million additional funding was allocated through Budget 2022 to implement a number of initiatives across specialist palliative care including:
- improving the availability of out of hours services through the recruitment of 10 clinical nurse specialists;
- progressing the development of three new hospices in the Midlands, Drogheda and Cavan through the recruitment of a project manager;
- Continuing to improve access to children's palliative care in the community through the recruitment of 3.5 clinical nurse co-ordinators and 2 consultant paediatricians with a special interest in palliative medicine;
- The provision of core funding for the night nursing service which will deliver approximately 1,750 nights of care and support about 500 patients and their families to die at home if that is their wish; and
- The provision of revenue funding for specialist palliative care services in CHO8 through the recruitment of a senior social worker and a clinical nurse specialist.
On top of the €2.4million additional funding allocated through the 2022 National Service Plan, €650,000 from the winter planning fund was provided to support the vital night nursing service and support people to die at home if that is their wish.
In addition, in December 2021 I announced €10million in once off funding for palliative care to progress our national priorities, improve equity of access to services and to support the work of voluntary providers in end of life and bereavement care. I was delighted that this included €175,000 in funding for the Irish Hospice Foundation.
More broadly the provision of additional funding for end of life and bereavement services is a matter for consideration in the forthcoming estimates process.
