Press Release: Friday 6 November 2026
LauraLynn Children’s Hospice to be fully State-funded
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, has today announced the redesignation of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice from Section 39 to Section 38 status under the Health Act 2004. The redesignation means the children’s hospice will be fully State-funded.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
“I am delighted to announce the redesignation of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice from Section 39 to Section 38 status. LauraLynn plays a unique and invaluable role for children with life-limiting conditions and their families, providing specialist clinical care alongside bereavement, therapeutic and emotional support at an extremely vulnerable time for our youngest patients.
“The redesignation reflects the importance of hospice and palliative care as an integral part of our health service and recognises LauraLynn’s exceptional contribution to children and families across the country.
“I am so grateful to the staff, volunteers and leadership team at LauraLynn for their unwavering commitment, compassion and professionalism. Their dedication helps every child in their care to have the best possible quality of life and provides invaluable support to families at some of the most challenging times in their lives.”
Redesignation will:
- Support universal access to palliative care.
- Secure the long-term sustainability of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.
- End dependence on fundraising to support core clinical services.
- Align LauraLynn with existing Government policy regarding hospice services.
- Enhance governance, accountability and compliance arrangements.
- Improve recruitment and retention through alignment with public sector terms and conditions.
- Support workforce planning and future service development.
- Enhance workforce stability, staff recruitment and retention.
LauraLynn is the only children’s hospice in the State, and supports children and families from all 26 counties through inpatient hospice, community and home-based care. Its services also reduce avoidable hospital admissions, enable earlier discharge and provide an alternative to prolonged acute hospital stays for children with complex palliative care needs.
Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and South East, Martina Queally, said:
“We are delighted to see LauraLynn achieve Section 38 status. This important milestone recognises the exceptional care, leadership and dedication that have made LauraLynn a trusted and valued service for children and their families across Ireland. It provides a strong foundation for the future sustainability and development of these vital services. We look forward to continuing our close partnership with CEO Kerry McLaverty, the Board of Directors and the entire LauraLynn team as they build on this success and further extend their reach and impact for children and their families.”
CEO of LauraLynn, Kerry McLaverty, said:
‘‘This is a hugely significant milestone for LauraLynn, for children and families, and for children’s palliative care in Ireland. The redesignation of LauraLynn recognises children’s hospice and palliative care as an essential part of our health service and provides a stronger, more sustainable foundation for the current services children and families rely on.
‘‘This moment has been many years in the making, and I want to acknowledge the families, staff, volunteers, supporters, Board members and partners whose commitment has helped bring us to this point.
“We are also deeply grateful to the donors and communities who have stood alongside LauraLynn throughout our journey. Their generosity will continue to play a vital role in helping us enhance and develop our service so that every child and family that needs our specialist care can access it.”
The redesignation will provide a sustainable model for specialist children’s palliative, end-of-life and respite care services in Ireland, securing these core services into the future. The Government is providing €11.5 million in 2027 to support the change.
The redesignation aligns with Sláintecare, the National Palliative Care Policy, the Health Service Executive (HSE) Corporate Plan and the National Model of Care for Children’s Palliative Care. It also supports the Programme for Government commitment to ‘increase funding to children’s hospice care’.