Only two hospice beds available for ill children in 11 counties

There are only two hospice beds available across 11 counties for children with life-limiting illnesses, according to a new report into respite services in Dublin Mid-Leinster and Dublin North-East.

The report also found that there are 411 children with a life-limiting condition in these areas.

The Irish Hospice Foundation and the Children's Sunsine Home are calling on the Government to develop a co-ordinated range of respite programmes for children.

Eugene Murray, Chief Executive of the IHF, said at present there are no children's hospice beds.

Mr Murray said: "In the two regions that we looked at, we found only two hospice beds in Tallaght available for respite.

"So across the counties of Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Meath, Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois there are no respite beds available for children who have palliative care needs."