Press release
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly visits the site of the soon to be Daisy Lodge as building commences in earnest this summer
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The site for building the new Daisy Lodge, the second only of its kind on the Island of Ireland, was today visited by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly where it was announced that building will commence this summer. The centre which will be located in Cong, County Mayo is a therapeutic centre for children with a cancer diagnosis and their families and will be run by Cancer Fund for Children (CFFC). The €15 million funding for the project was raised through public fundraising as well as €7.5 million contribution from the Irish Government (€5 million from the Department of Health combined with €2.5 million from the Shared Island Fund).
Cancer Fund for Children has operated Daisy Lodge in Newcastle in County Down since 2014, and the second centre will offer therapeutic support to families impacted by childhood cancer in a new location. The new centre will welcome families from both Ireland and Northern Ireland for free therapeutic short breaks. Children with cancer will be referred to the new centre by the charity’s team of Cancer Support Specialists working across Ireland in family homes and within the hospital setting. The existing centre in County Down can facilitate 1,800 family members per year, and the new Daisy Lodge will increase this number to 4,000 per year.
Speaking about the planned new build, the Minister for Health said:
"Today we take an important step closer to ensuring every child diagnosed with cancer has access to therapeutic short breaks regardless of where they live. I’m delighted to visit the site today and see the progress with the enabling works and that we’re on track to commence the full construction this summer. Partnering with Cancer Fund for Children on the funding of a second Daisy Lodge means we will establish a vital service based in the West of Ireland for children from across the island. It is vital for these children and their families to have an amazing experience, to relax and enjoy time together away from the surroundings of a hospital environment while still having the support they need. Our National Cancer Strategy recognises the essential role played by the voluntary and charity sector in providing cancer support services. Cancer Fund for Children already have strong links across the sector, including an existing dedicated centre in County Down and have formalised links with the National Children’s Cancer Service in Crumlin, to ensure a dedicated referral pathway to services like their therapeutic short break centre."
As of January 2024, Cancer Fund for Children supports 839 families across all 32 counties on the island of Ireland. The end of 2023 saw 324 new family referrals–- a 30% increase from the previous year. Cancer Fund for Children added a Youth Support Worker to work alongside their Cancer Support Specialist already based at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, Dublin who will provide informal social and emotional support to young people aged 11+ during their cancer treatment.
The Chair of Cancer Fund for Children, Mr Peter O’Brien, said:
"Every milestone day like this is a momentous one for families impacted by childhood cancer, as it’s one step closer to realising our vision of an equitable support service. I’d like to thank the Minister for Health and the department for supporting Cancer Fund for Children and helping us to deliver on our mission - to ensure that no child (aged 0-24) across the island of Ireland has to face cancer alone.
"A childhood cancer diagnosis and its treatment can have a devastating impact on the whole family. Life as they once knew it is shattered. Beyond the excellent clinical care families receive there is a huge need for social and emotional support. Therapeutic short breaks at Daisy Lodge provide a safe, restorative space where children with cancer, their siblings and parents can reconnect, spend quality time together, meet other families and benefit from the support of our dedicated therapeutic team. This new centre will complement our existing community service which provides social and emotional support to families impacted by childhood cancer in their homes, communities and shared care centres.
"As we can only provide therapeutic short breaks to one in every seven families across the island, a second Daisy Lodge will be transformational in helping to ensure every family impacted by childhood cancer across the island can access our support. Construction will commence in Summer 2024, and we are truly grateful to the Department of Health for helping make this possible."
Issued on behalf of Cancer Fund for Children by Walsh: PR
For more information, please contact Maeve Governey, maeve@walshpr.ie 086 805 7884
Every week across the island of Ireland an average of 10 children and young people aged 0-24 years old will be diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer Fund for Children is here to help, guide and support families. Through services including individual support, group support and therapeutic short breaks we help to empower family members, so they feel better equipped to cope with the emotional impact of cancer. They also provide bereavement support to help families cope with the death of a child or parent.
If you would like to donate, please contact the charity on 01 562 1580 or donate online at cancerfundforchildren.com.
The proposal by the Cancer Fund for Children is for the construction of a 30,000 square foot Daisy Lodge short break centre for children diagnosed with cancer and their families, similar to an existing centre in County Down.
This will be a non-clinical facility for children diagnosed with cancer, and complement the existing successful service provided by CFFC at Daisy Lodge, in Newcastle, County Down. The new centre in Cong will enable CFFC to increase the number of children and parents it supports on the island each year from 1,800 to 4,000, and construction is expected to commence in summer 2024.
Cancer Fund for Children also provide community based social and emotional support to children and young people diagnosed with cancer across the island of Ireland. This national community support service is delivered in partnership with the Katie Nugent Fund at Children’s Health Foundation, who also fund a CFFC Cancer Support Specialist on St. Johns Ward, at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin.
Cancer Fund for Children have committed that the new centre will welcome 70% of visitors from Ireland and 30% of visitors from Northern Ireland, and that their existing centre in County Down will welcome 70% of visitors from Northern Ireland and 30% from Ireland. Cancer Fund for Children view this arrangement as an opportunity for children and their families from different communities on the island to share an experience together.