Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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140. To ask the Minister for Health if support will be provided for dementia care in budget 2016 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34988/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014. This delivers on a commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a national Alzheimer’s and other dementia's strategy to increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention and develop enhanced community based services.

The Department of Health and the HSE have agreed a joint initiative with the Atlantic Philanthropies to implement significant elements of the Strategy over the period 2014-2017. This National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme will represent a combined investment of €27.5m, with Atlantic Philanthropies contributing €12million, and the HSE contributing €15.5million-.

This programme will promote a greater focus on timely diagnosis of dementia and on the value of early intervention, along with the long-term objective of making people in Ireland generally more aware and understanding of the needs of people with dementia, and of the contribution that those with dementia continue to make to our society.

Key elements of the initiative include:

the rollout of a programme of Intensive Home Supports and Homecare Packages for people with dementia;

the provision of additional dementia-specific resources for GPs, who are the critical and initial point of contact with the health system for those with dementia. The resource material will include training materials and guidance on local services and contact points, etc.

Measures to raise public awareness, address stigma, and promote the inclusion and involvement in society of those with dementia.

A Monitoring Group, chaired by the Department of Health, has been established to assist with and advise on implementation of the National Dementia Strategy, including the National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme. This Group includes health professionals, administrators, researchers, and advocates. The Group also includes a person living with dementia and a representative of those who care for people with dementia. The most recent meeting of this Monitoring Group was held on 24 September 2015.

The question of funding for dementia services next year is being considered as part of the Estimates Process 2016 which is currently underway, and the recommendations received have been noted in this context.