David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Humphreys for raising this matter and I acknowledge his sincerity and interest in the area, as well as the work he has done. The Minister of State, Deputy Daly, wanted to be here but he is currently before the select committee and sends his apologies.

As a response to the increasing number of people with dementia, the Government launched the Irish national dementia strategy in 2014. The Senator is correct that more and more people are presenting with dementia, possibly because people are living longer. The strategy seeks to enable people with dementia to maintain their identity, resilience and dignity by recognising that they remain valued, independent citizens who, along with their carers, have the right to be fully included as active citizens in society. The Understand Together campaign has raised public awareness of dementia and has promoted the inclusion and involvement in society of those with dementia. Some 459 people with dementia have benefited from dementia-specific intensive home care packages, while thousands more have availed of standard home support services. The HSE's national dementia office is working to implement the national dementia strategy and provides in the region of €12 million in annual funding to organisations delivering dementia-specific respite, home care, day care, cognitive stimulation therapy, social clubs and supports for family carers. The HSE also provides €400,000 per annum to support the dementia adviser service operated by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

A primary focus of the strategy is the improvement of community-based services for people with dementia and their families and carers. To this end, a number of key measures in the strategy are currently supported with dormant accounts funding, including: a national network of memory technology resource rooms; post-diagnostic supports; a dementia diagnostic service for people with intellectual disability; the national roll-out of a dementia training programme for HSE home care staff; the development of dementia resource centres; and community support projects for people with dementia.

The national dementia office and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland have collaborated on a project to map dementia-specific community-based services across the country. This project is one of a series of data collection measures by the national dementia office which aim to support the future development of services and supports for people with dementia. The national dementia office is also progressing initiatives to improve dementia care in acute hospitals. These include training in dementia and delirium care, the appointment of several clinical nurse specialists in dementia and the embedding of dementia and delirium pathways into existing services. These initiatives aim to enable healthcare professionals in acute settings understand the specific needs of people with dementia, while creating an environment that is less disorienting and stressful for people with dementia.

The level of funding available for the Department of Health in 2020 and the quantum of services to be provided by the HSE, including supports for people with dementia, will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process and national service planning. As these deliberations are ongoing, the Minister is not in a position to outline plans for 2020 at this time.