Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him. It was very moving listening to Senators O'Keeffe, Landy and Kelly speaking about this frightful disease. I fought to maintain the public nursing home in Crooksling, which is close to Tallaght. We got a reprieve from the Minister, Deputy Reilly, but it was my first experience of seeing 80 patients, who suffer from Alzheimer's, in one long room. It was a horrific experience and it brought me back to reality. This issue should be addressed. If one has not dealt with people who have Alzheimer's, it is very difficult to empathise with the situation.

Some of my colleagues know that, in 2006, I produced a policy document, A New Approach to Ageing and Ageism, and it gives me pleasure to support this Labour Party motion. I was honoured to be asked by Deputy Martin to produce the Fianna Fáil policy document on older people, active ageing and quality care. It is a Fianna Fáil policy paper to promote the human potential of, and human rights for, older Irish citizens.

Over six months, during the course of my extensive research for the preparation of this document, I learned a great deal about the afflictions and issues which face elderly citizens every day. Dementia is an extremely distressing condition for those who suffer from it, and it causes much anguish and pain to their families and close friends. The situation presents a problem of great magnitude and a formidable challenge to health and social services.

The shocking fact is that, currently, roughly 41,700 people in Ireland suffer from dementia, more than 26,000 of whom live at home. What is even more shocking is that, every year, approximately 4,000 new cases arise. This is a clear indicator that we must, as a matter of urgency, put provisions in place within our health system to tackle this terrifying epidemic. There are no signs of this growing problem abating. It is estimated that a major increase in the number of people with dementia is likely to occur after 2021, with the numbers growing to between 141,000 and 147,000 by 2041.

When one considers that dementia costs more than cancer, heart disease and stroke combined, at a current cost of ¤1.6 billion per annum, it is clear that this is a severe issue which could cripple an already damaged health system. An emphasis must be placed, therefore, on the development of co-ordinated, multi-layered and well-resourced services which will be responsible to the individual needs of people with dementia and those who care for them.

Fianna Fáil outlined the complexity and range of issues involved in the effective management of dementia in the 1999 action plan for dementia. Following the publication of this report, community supports were enhanced and increased levels of funding were made available to develop a wide range of community services, including community nursing, paramedic and home help services, and support to family carers. During our time in office, enormous strides were made in the concept and practice of services for older people as we took the view that there was an intimate link between the care of older people and that of people with dementia.

The need to provide support and dignity and independence through the provision of the appropriate people and carers was heavily stressed during our time in office. The Government must make the dramatic changes which are clearly needed to aid the 41,700 people suffering from dementia, to halt the inevitable growth of this affliction and to help the countless family members and close friends who incur most of the responsibility of care, which is nothing short of a disgrace.