Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
643. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to increase funding for hospice care for children and the introduction of new national policy on children’s palliative care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53403/25]
View answerThe Government is committed to enhancing children's palliative care services to provide the best end of life and bereavement support for children, families and carers.
There have been significant achievements in children’s palliative care in recent years.
• Increased resources have been allocated to the development of the Children’s Health Ireland Specialist Palliative Care Team. There are 4 consultant paediatricians in palliative medicine posts, a specialist registrar, and 4 Clinical Nurse Coordinators.
• 19 Clinical Nurse Coordinators have been put in place nationally.
• The provision of respite care for children with the establishment of the Laura Lynn ‘hospice in the home’ service.
• Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice in receipt of recurring statutory funding since 2021.
The 2024 National Adult Palliative Care Policy includes a suite of actions that relate to children’s palliative care including the full implementation of the recommendations of the 2020 'Bee Wee Report'.
The Department of Health is currently commissioning an ‘Evaluation of the 2009 National Policy on Children’s Palliative Care.’ The evaluation will review and assess the implementation of the 2009 children’s palliative care policy and identify the areas of progress along with any gaps which may need to be considered in future policy development.
Both the Department of Health and the HSE are also project sponsors of work currently underway in Trinity College Dublin titled ‘Enhancing Children’s Palliative Care in Ireland’. Findings from both these studies will inform evidenced based policy decisions in the development of the national children’s palliative care policy and assist with national service planning.
The total national palliative care budget for this year was over €184 million – a 15% increase on 2024 and a 50% increase on 2020. As part of the Programme for Government, we will continue to invest in children’s palliative care and develop a new evidence-based national policy on palliative care for children.
