Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The census confirmed our ageing population, as we expected. That is no surprise. There is a great need for people who are growing older to be able to remain independent for as long as possible and to live in their own homes with dignity. Day centres are a fundamental part and a key support in providing social interaction, advice and support to both the clients and also to their carers. Unfortunately, there is a big gap in these services around the Macroom area and the Lee Valley, in parishes such as Macroom, Kilmurry, Kilmichael, Aghinagh, Clondrohid and Aghabullogue, and even west of the town, in Ballyvourney and Kilnamartya.

Dementia services are an issue as well. There are more than 55,000 people with various dementia conditions and medical conditions. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is supporting many families and their carers. In Macroom, we have an ambitious plan to secure dementia-friendly town status and an enthusiastic group is driving that forward. This is in order that people have the chance to live their best lives for as long as possible. A small-scale day-care service is provided on Wednesdays by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. The organisation could expand that service if suitable facilities were available. A building on the hospital grounds in Macroom, which is no more than 20 years old, was vacated when the primary care centre was relocated down to the mart area. The Minister of State had the opportunity to see it and he was impressed with the facilities there. He will also have seen that during works on the nearby community hospital, which are at an advanced stage now, some services, including ambulance service, were relocated to this building. There is still a considerable amount of space available in the building to deliver services. It would be a great location to deliver day services and dementia services if the opportunity was available.

For over ten years, the HSE has been talking about and making different preparations to provide day services around the Macroom area. In the meantime, the demand and need continue to grow. The HSE should not wait until the nearby hospital extension is completed. As many efforts as possible should run in parallel to advance those services. I understand that some preparations are under way and plans have been advanced but they have still not moved on to tender stage. In the meantime, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland runs its day services on Wednesdays. If they could be facilitated in that building, it would also provide an opportunity to grow those services locally.

I am conscious of the need to provide services for older people, locally in their community, and to support the services front and centre, those people more so than the HSE, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland or any other organisation. It is the community priority.

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