23/05/2026
New findings from a landmark national study, Evidence for Children’s Palliative Care in Ireland (ECHPI), provide the most detailed Irish estimates to date of how many children are living with life-limiting conditions, and the extent of their care needs and use of public acute hospital services.
Released today during national Children’s Hospice Week, the study offers vital national evidence at a time when the planning of children’s palliative care policy and services for the future is under review.
Led by researchers at College Dublin and delivered in partnership with clinicians, voluntary service providers, policymakers and families, the ECHPI study analysed national hospital data to estimate prevalence and examine patterns of care among children aged 0–19 with life-limiting conditions.
The research was funded primarily by the Health Research Board (HRB), with co-funding from LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, and the Hospice Foundation.
The analysis estimates that up to 1 in 168 children and young people in Ireland were living with life limiting conditions in 2019 — or between 5,968 and 7,951 children and young people. This compares to previous estimates of 3,840 children and young people.
