Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the implementation of the National Action Plan for Dementia; the success that has been achieved to date in this area; the level of dedicated funding that is available to progress the provisions of the plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7328/07]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Action Plan for Dementia, published in 1999, outlines the complexity and range of issues involved in the effective management of dementia. The plan emphasises the need for the development of co-ordinated, multi-layered and well-resourced services, which are responsive to the individual needs of people with dementia and of those who care for them. The Action Plan describes a model of best practice for the provision and planning of dementia care in Ireland. The recommendations in the plan include increased funding, changes to service delivery mechanisms, expanded Old Age Psychiatry services, increased support for family carers and provision of day care and respite services.

Since the report was published, community supports have been enhanced over the years and increased levels of funding have been made available to develop a wide range of community based services, including community nursing, paramedical services, home help services, and support to family carers.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. In 2006 a total of 2,000 additional Home Care packages were provided at a full year cost of €55m and a similar increase in the number of packages is being provided in 2007, benefitting some 4,000 people. An extra €18m was provided in Budget 2007 to fund the cost of some 780,000 additional Home Help this year. This brings the total funding allocated to the Home Help service to approximately €171 million per annum. An additional €3.5m was also allocated to provide an additional 1,100 places in Day/Respite care.

In terms of dementia specific services, new day care centres and residential units have been designed and developed in partnership with the Alzheimer's Society. Home care services have also been specifically developed to meet the needs of persons with Alzheimer's and their carers. The additional funding provided under Home Care Packages and the Home Help Scheme will further enhance the supports available to families caring for people with dementia at home.

In August 2006 the Alzheimer Society of Ireland published "Perceptions of Stigma in Dementia: An Exploratory Study" in conjunction with the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College, Dublin. The HSE has advised that it will work closely with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, as is the case at present, in examining the various recommendations of this report.