Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased the Deputy referenced the work of the Alzheimer Society. This is an area of interest she has pursued during her time in the House. I am pleased that in budget 2020 we were able to agree funding, which has been welcomed by the Alzheimer Society, for the appointment of ten additional dementia advisers throughout the country. This means we will be able to ensure that there is a dementia adviser in every county. I want to acknowledge on the record Deputy Butler, Senator Kevin Humphreys and Colette Kelleher and, I am sure, many others who have been working on this issue on a cross-party basis. I hope that will come as welcome news to the Alzheimer's services in Deputy O'Loughlin's county and, indeed, across the country.

I detect and understand her frustration in respect of when the planning application will be submitted. I will further engage with the HSE on that and revert to Kildare Deputies. My understanding is that the centre will be situated in the existing two-storey house that is listed as a protected structure. I can only presume that sometimes it takes a little longer to design planning applications for such structures. The plan is that this house will be renovated and refurbished to ensure that it is fit for purpose. I assure the people of Monasterevin that we will make progress on this, that it is included in the capital plan and that the next phase is planning permission approval.

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