Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. She cares passionately about dementia and the 55,000 people who suffer from it. These numbers are expected to increase to more than 130,000 by 2041 as the number of older people increases.

The national dementia strategy emphasises that, with the right supports, people with dementia can continue to live well and participate in their own communities for a long time. As part of the strategy implementation programme, dementia-specific intensive home care packages are being rolled out in a number of acute hospitals and surrounding communities countrywide, targeting people at risk of acute hospital admission and people who have finished the acute phase of their treatment. In August 2017, some 241 people living with dementia benefited under the funding allocated from the programme and 139 people with dementia were in receipt of intensive home care packages. Other elements of the implementation programme include an information and awareness campaign, called Understand Together and launched last year, and a programme to upskill GPs and primary care teams in dementia diagnosis and management.

Social care services are an important component of enabling people with dementia to remain living at home and participating in their own homes and communities. They also provide valuable supports to carers.

Regarding the specific issue of the day care centre in south Kildare, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland receives annual funding from the HSE to provide services and supports in Kildare to people with dementia and their families and carers. These services are in addition to the supports provided directly by the HSE. Monasterevin day care centre services were historically provided from an old GP surgery on Drogheda Street. In 2014, for health and safety reasons, the HSE unfortunately had to restrict access to this building. The Monasterevin GAA club kindly agreed to host the centre until capital works for the Drogheda Street premises were completed.

The HSE met the chairperson and members of the centre's board on 29 August in respect of funding issues. Unfortunately, the board subsequently took the decision to cease operations with effect from 7 September at the temporary site of the day care centre. The HSE arranged a plan with the board for the continuation of the service. Regrettably, the centre was closed while a number of issues were resolved. All service users were notified of the temporary closure and the centre reopened at the GAA club on 25 September.

The HSE has made funding available for the design phase of the Monasterevin day care centre project. It is estimated that the design phase will be completed in the first quarter of 2018. Once it concludes, the HSE will establish the exact amount of funding required from the capital plan for construction. A feasibility study in 2015 suggested a construction cost of €540,000. A project timeline can be developed once the design and costing phases are complete.

The HSE is committed to the Monasterevin day care centre project and will continue to work with the centre's board and its service users in the facility's development.

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