Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)
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306. To ask the Minister for Health given that intensive Dementia specific home care packages under the national dementia strategy are currently delivered in eight areas linked to delayed discharge in acute care settings, his plans to extend these packages to enable those living in the community to avail of much needed intensive home care supports; the number of persons who have already availed of these packages; the cost of providing these packages; and the projections for uptake in the next 12 to 16 months. [35600/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014. this delivers on an a commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a national Alzheimer's and other dementias 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 €12m, and the HSE contributing €15.5m.

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 roll-out of a programme of Intensive Home Supports and Home-care 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.

As the delivery of dementia specific intensive home care packages is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.