Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for coming to the House to discuss this all-important topic. Having served on the all-party group previously with her, I am fully aware of her dedication to the area. I also thank Senator O'Loughlin for organising the briefing yesterday on behalf of the all-party group. It really was a very enlightening briefing, particularly with regard to brain health and preventative measures in the context of dementia. The importance of feeding the brain and making sure that it and the heart are healthy were two clear takeaway messages from the briefing.

I pay tribute to the many carers who look after their loved ones at home. The longer we can keep people at home, the better. I welcome the increased funding and additional home care hours for people with dementia that the Minister of State announced recently. The longer we can keep people at home, in familiar surroundings, the better.I would also like to pay tribute to the dementia nursing home outside Bruff in County Limerick. I know the Minister of State was due to visit. I am not sure whether that is still on the cards. The work it does by keeping people in a surrounding similar to what they were used to growing up in certainly has helped in keeping people with dementia fit and tuned into what is going on around them. I thank the Minister of State.