Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Deputy's comments. I am happy to continue that engagement, given the group is very constructive in its approach to these issues.

The question asks about the appointment of one dementia care adviser for each of the CHO areas, of which there are nine in the country. As the Deputy will know, given she knows so much about this issue, there are already eight dementia care advisers so that would only mean the appointment of one more. However, as the service is only serving 14 counties, that highlights the issue we needed to evaluate. If I was to answer by saying that I would provide one in every CHO area, I would be confirming the appointment of one more adviser, whereas I know that is not what the Deputy is seeking.

I am awaiting the results of the UCC research, which will be on my desk in September. Hopefully, that will be in time to inform the budget. We are acutely aware of this issue. At every meeting we have around budget issues for the coming year and our priorities, dementia is top of the list because we know it is an enormous challenge for society that is coming down the road. I intend to keep that focus.

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