As plans for the country's first Children's Hospice were unveiled today, voluntary healthcare body the Children's Sunshine Home revealed that on average, 354 youngsters died from terminal diseases each year.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern met with children and their families as he viewed the plans for the hospice which will be able to support over 300 families in Ireland each year.
"This is a truly professional service delivered with sensitive care and compassion and all of Sunshine Home's services testify to the fact that it is a truly person-centred facility," Mr Ahern said as he visited the Children's Sunshine Home which will begin building the new facility in November.
Voluntary healthcare body, the Sunshine Home in Dublin's Leopardstown, was started to help young people many of whom are unlikely to live until adulthood.
It helps youngsters and their families and provides respite, home support, residential and palliative care to children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
The centre, where building will start in November, will house four buildings including a palliative care home, an eight-bed unit and additional respite, residential and family accommodation for over 300 children and families.
In Ireland there are an estimated 1,369 children with life-limiting conditions, and most are unlikely to live to adulthood, according to a 2005 report from the Department of Health, Irish Hospice Foundation and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
The Children's Sunshine Home was started to help these children and their families and provides respite, home support, residential, and palliative care to children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.