Ireland

Abstract

The Republic of Ireland has a population of 4.7 million (https://www.cso.ie/en/csolatestnews/presspages/2017/census2016summaryresults-part1/), with around 65,904 births annually (over 26,000 in Dublin); however, 488 are subsequently classified as perinatal deaths (McMahon et al. 2016). Figures indicate that major congenital anomaly was the primary cause of death for almost 60% (n = 98, 59.0%) of the 166 early neonatal deaths (in UK it accounts for 27.4%). Major congenital anomaly was also the primary cause of death for over half of the 28 late neonatal deaths (n = 15, 53.6%) (https://www.cso.ie/en/csolatestnews/presspages/2017/census2016summaryresults-part1/). Numbers of children living with life-limiting conditions in Ireland are now estimated at 3850 (Ling et al. 2015). In 2010, the first dedicated policy for babies/children with life-limiting conditions (DoH 2010) was published. For the first time, a national policy document incorporated a number of recommendations including the continued development of Irish neonatal palliative care services.