Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 261: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the strategy which is in place or planned to address the issue of the early onset of Alzheimer's disease; if she will initiate a public awareness campaign regarding the symptoms of this disease including the instance of early onset dementia; her plans to establish a specific policy relating to early onset dementia to include improved and wider availability of homecare facilities, specialist respite care facilities and residential facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26498/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be aware that the development of services for people of all ages with Alzheimer's disease is based on the action plan for dementia published by the National Council on Ageing and Older People in 1999. Considerable progress has been made in service development since the publication of the report and, in each of the years since 1999, my Department has provided additional funding to psychiatry of old age, over €5 million, and to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, over €2 million, for services delivered. In addition, carers of Alzheimer sufferers have benefited from the €5 million we have made available, in the same period, specifically for the support of carers. The Health Service Executive is also making progress in the provision of stand-alone dementia units on a gradual basis. All of the above provisions apply to all dementia sufferers, regardless of age.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland launched a document entitled Early Onset Dementia: A Needs Analysis of Younger People with Dementia in Ireland. My Department will continue to work with the society to discuss the recommendations contained in this report.