Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Long-term planning is required for the approximately 55,000 people living with dementia and their carers. Population ageing is happening all over the world and Ireland is no exception in this regard. We are all living longer, which is good, but people want to live at home, safe and secure in the knowledge that if they need medical assistance, it will be provided to them. The number of people with dementia in Ireland is expected to increase.

It stands at 55,000, but that figure is expected to increase in the next three years to 68,000. My question is specifically about dementia care advisers, of whom there are eight in the country and who cover 11 counties. When a person is diagnosed with dementia, the support of a dementia care adviser cannot be underestimated. In order to provide a service for everyone with dementia, 32 dementia care advisers are required to cover the entire country. If we could see an increase of eight advisers year on year for the next three years, we would meet that target.

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