Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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259. To ask the Minister for Health if he has studied the budgetary submission submitted to his Department on behalf of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland with particular reference to ensuring cost-effective dementia care in the forthcoming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32663/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a National Alzheimer's and other Dementias' Strategy by 2013 to

- increase awareness

- ensure early diagnosis and intervention and

- ensure development of enhanced community based services.

A significant amount of preparatory work has already been completed.A research review funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies, titled Creating Excellence in Dementia Care, A Research Review for Ireland's National Dementia Strategy, was published in January 2012. A public consultation process to inform the development of the Strategy was conducted in 2012 and a report of same published on the Department's website in February 2013. The Alzheimer's Society of Ireland made a submission to this process.

A Working Group, representative of key stakeholders from the Department, the HSE, the medical profession and the community and voluntary sector has been established, meetings of which are on-going. The Alzheimer's Society of Ireland is represented on this Working Group. While the development of the Strategy will have to have due regard to the constraints imposed by the budgetary situation, it is intended that it will be a transformative Strategy. It will have a very practical focus, will be action oriented and will focus on what can be done to make a difference to the lives of people with dementia. It is intended that a draft of the Strategy will be completed by the end of 2013.