Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his articulation of how important this service would be. It is fantastic that there is a Wednesday service. However, I do not believe the service is in the most appropriate setting at present. Especially for people with dementia, it is important they have the stability of a centre that can provide supports for them and to which they can return every week. A lot of people need more than one-day support. It is great to have one day in place. It is a start. We know that service is there. Day support for people with dementia is an invaluable respite for the carer, as they have a few hours' support on that particular day. As I indicated, the HSE has advised that it is not possible to define a timeline for the day care centre project as allocation of capital funding is still awaited. Then, the HSE could then progress to the tender phase and once that had been completed, timelines could be set out. I must check whether an application has come in and can revert to the Deputy on that. Now is the time for the application to be submitted as we will be devising the capital plan for 2024. A lot of work will happen during the next six months in that regard. I am supportive of providing this service in that particular area. I believe this can be delivered through working with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. There is great co-operation between the organisation, the HSE and myself as Minister of State. As I said, there are 46 services now up and running across the country but we still need to do more. Everybody acknowledges that, but I will take a specific interest in whether that request for capital funding has come in. Now is the time to do it. The day I was in the community nursing unit, that beautiful new extension was well under way. That whole campus can offer so much for the people of Macroom and the surrounding areas.

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