Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 285: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on a recent publication by the Health Service Executive western area on dementia services in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35634/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be aware that the development of services for people 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 of more than €65 million to psychiatry of old age and more than €2 million to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland for services delivered. In addition, carers for Alzheimer sufferers have benefitted 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 dementia units on a gradual basis. For example, the Estimates for 2006 include the provision of a new dementia unit for Carndonagh.

While I welcome the Health Service Executive western area's plan for the development of dementia services in County Clare, which was launched in October 2005, the development of the services and implementation of the proposal for the development of dementia services in County Clare is a matter for the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004.