Parents Accomodation

'Home away from Home' project for families of sick children a huge success

The Sherry FitzGerald "Your Home Away From Home" project was launched in early 2006 to assist the Hospital in purchasing a house on Fontenroy Street in Dublin 7 for use as parent's accommodation. We are delighted to announce that work on the house is complete and the house will now provide, for the first time in Temple Street's long and distinguished history, a home away from home for families from outside Dublin whose children are attending Temple Street, often with very serious illnesses.   

Each year, over 125,000 children attend Temple Street Children's University Hospital. More pertinently, over 4,000 of in-patients are from outside Dublin. Parents and family of these 4,000 children often have to travel long distances and stay overnight in Dublin while their child receives treatment in Temple Street. 

In some cases, parents must journey to Dublin several times in one month to ensure their child gets essential medical treatment. This can often put huge strain financially as well as emotionally on families of sick children. The new facility provided by Sherry FitzGerald will go along way to alleviating this strain on families.

Until now Temple Street had fifteen small camp beds in wards available to parents who wanted to stay beside their child rather than travel to places such as Donegal, Mayo and Kerry. On any given night, Temple Street had a waiting list of up to 20 people waiting for a bed. The new 'Home Away From Home' will be a huge improvement for families.

Speaking about Sherry FitzGerald's involvement Mark FitzGerald CEO, Sherry FitzGerald Group said "This project was formed in response to the critical need to provide family accommodation for parents throughout Ireland who need to be close to their sick child while they are attending Temple Street. The house on Fontenoy Street will comfortably accommodate two families, which of course is not enough for all the families who are affected, but it is a start. I'm very proud today when I see that the great efforts of our staff and our clients to raise funds for this project over the past two years have paid off."

Denise Fitzgerald, CEO of the Fundraising Office, Temple Street Children's University Hospital said "This is a very proud day for Temple Street Children's University Hospital, Sherry FitzGerald and everyone who has been involved in the Home Away from Home project since 2006. This house will make a very real difference to the families of children who are attending the hospital and we hope that it will make things a little easier for them during what can be a very difficult and distressing time. On behalf of the patients, parents and staff at Temple Street, I would like to say a very heartfelt ‘thank you' to Sherry FitzGerald, without their partnership this would not have been possible, and to everyone who has supported this project.'