Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to develop a strategy on the diagnosis, treatment and care of people with Alzheimer's Disease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20189/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Dementia is a most distressing condition and presents a significant and growing challenge to health and social services. Alzheimer's disease represents about 70% of the cases of dementia.

People nowadays live longer and as a consequence are more likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease. While dementia is not solely related to age, it does affect 5% of people over 65 years with the figure rising to 20% for people over 80 years of age.

Research and published work on dementia has outlined the complexity and range of issues involved in the effective management of dementia. This work also emphasises the need for 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.

Over the past number of years there has been continued development of community-based services for older persons. This is reflected in the unprecedented levels of investment in this sector – over €200 million additional funding has been provided for new service developments in recent years. These developments include community nursing, paramedical services, home help services and support to family carers. In tandem there have been significant developments, both nationally and internationally, in the diagnosis and treatment of dementia, and in the development of services to meet the needs of people with dementia and their families.

In recognition of the growing importance of these conditions, particularly in light of current demographic trends, the Department of Health and Children has started the process of developing a strategy on dementia that will support the delivery of long-term care services having regard to future demographic trends and the consequential increase in demand for long-term care.

The strategy will be developed on the basis of the best evidence available from national and international sources. We are now in discussions with relevant stakeholder groups on the first stage of the process. This will be a research phase to include relevant information on current prevalence and future trends in dementia, as well as international strategies and developments, including their outcomes and evaluations. Once this is completed and available my Department will use it as a framework to develop a national strategy.