Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. I welcome this Private Members' motion and congratulate those responsible for it. It will have cross-party support. A report was published in January of this year, public consultation was completed in August and submissions are currently under review with a view to establishing a working group to develop the strategy by 2013. I hope the working group will have its work completed sooner rather than later. I congratulate Senator White on her work for the aged.

There are over 41,000 people living in Ireland with dementia and the projected increase in the number of people with the condition is such that it will reach 140,000 to 150,000 before 2041. The first stage was to assemble the research and evidence on which the policy was developed and this was completed this year. A research review for Ireland's national dementia strategy was presented to the Minister for Health and published in January. A summary of its key findings are set out. The next stage set out the publication and consultation process and the closing date for submissions was 31 August. Officials are examining the responses. I am trying to get the action group working as soon as possible.

The HSE provides a range of services for people with dementia, including primary care services, home support services, daycare, respite, housing with care and continuing care services. Carer support groups have been established across the country. There are approximately 42,000 people with dementia in Ireland, which is a substantial population. Some 26,000 of them live at home. I had the experience with my late father, God be good to him, who died when he was 93 years old. We cared for him in his home for as long as we could. At one stage, he had to go into the local nursing home for three weeks and every single day he wanted to be at home and to die at home.

A major increase in the number of Irish people with dementia is expected, due to our ageing population. Numbers are expected to increase to 147,000. Our strategy must be far-seeing over the coming 30 or 40 years, a crucial period. The cost of dementia is approximately ¤1.69 billion per year, as stated by Senator Mary White. There is no doubt that cost will increase and we should allow for the anticipated costs and the anticipated population increase for those with dementia.

Recently I read, I hope I am correct, that it costs approximately ¤40,000 per annum. I am not complaining about the cost. These people have made significant contributions to the country for 60 or 70 years and we must look after them. Somebody mentioned early diagnosis. In the case of my father I honestly did not see it happening. He was a man who was active, walked, read and kept up to date with everyday occurrences and suddenly it happened. One will probably say it will happen to every aged person but that is not the way it should be.

The recent review suggests that community services in Ireland are underdeveloped, inequitable and fragmented with only a small proportion of people with dementia availing of critical services, day care, public health, nursing home, care packages, respite, etc. As already stated, a greater number of those people want to live at home.