Sir, – The article “Supreme Court dismisses father and son’s appeal over care allowance while child was hospitalised” (News, July 4th) highlights once more the failure of existing Government supports to respond adequately to the particular and very significant financial pressures experienced by families when a child becomes seriously ill and requires prolonged hospitalisation. Click [...]

More than one-in-three children with a rare disease waited over five years for their diagnosis, new findings have revealed. It has also emerged that some 4,023 children are now on waiting lists for clinical genetics. These findings, published today (MON) by Rare Disease Ireland, point to a “fragmented” and “torturous” route to treatment for thousands [...]

Brendan and Terry Ring didn’t plan to establish a national charity in memory of their daughter but they did want to support other families who were treading the same path of serious childhood illness. Now their Limerick-based Cliona’s Foundation has been going for as long as the lifespan of the girl it’s named after – 15 years. [...]

The article Laws ‘must state no children will be admitted to adult mental health facilities’ (Irish Examiner, December 1) is a timely reminder of the need for increased investment in mental health services for children and young people. Click here to read the full letter to the Editor from Children in Hospital Ireland (CIH).