Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have in excess of 40,000 people in the country living with dementia. I understand from the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, that the number will more than treble between now and 2041 when we can expect to have 132,000 people living with that particular condition. In April 2013 the Government appointed an advisory group to work on a national dementia strategy. How far has the initiative progressed, and when can we expect publication of the national dementia strategy, which is of vital importance?

A commitment was made in the programme for Government to address the plight of the 32 survivors of thalidomide. I raised the matter with the Taoiseach on several occasions in the House. Unfortunately, the previous Minister for Health failed to effect the commitments made in the programme for Government. Has the Minister for Health engaged with the survivors of thalidomide, and is he in a position to bring about a resolution?

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