Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It would serve the public better if there was not this pretence that it is all going to be in the national interest, when it is really about party political jostling. I say that with no particular axe to grind regarding when the general election will be called.

As somebody with a personal interest in the care of people with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, it was an honour to attend the pre-budget briefing held by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland last week. When home in Galway recently, I encountered a person who is caring for somebody with Alzheimer's. When the discussion about extra care came up, the helpful local health board representative asked the carer "Would you consider putting him into respite for a week?" The carer found this very upsetting because the person in question would not be fit for that and would find it extremely disorienting. Whereas she realised that the health board official was seeking to be helpful, she felt all the more lonely that her particular situation was not understood. Cases such as this underline what the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and others are saying when they talk about the need for intensive, dementia-specific care in the community. In fact, they are talking about funding such provision beyond the eight current pilot sites to all local health office areas, which would cost approximately €320 million. Of the order of €1.69 billion is currently spent on caring for people with dementia, but most of that is spent on nursing home care when in fact such care should be the last resort. It is important to have care in the community and that people are assisted in living and being cared for at home. That requires supports, including people who understand the evolving situation that having dementia or Alzheimer's involves being brought in. The care on offer should be specific to the condition of the person. With all the pre-budget and pre-election talk, I hope that care in this important area is something the Government will take seriously. It should listen to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and provide funding to meet the need that exists in this area.