Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider the appointment of dementia care co-ordinators and dementia advisers in each local health office area. [40968/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s pre-budget submission recommends the appointment of dementia care coordinators and dementia advisers in each local health office area, in addition to an investment of €35 million in home care services and the appointment of dementia friendly community coordinators. I had a constructive meeting with representatives of the Alzheimer Society on 29 August where these matters were discussed.

In response to the rising number of people with dementia, currently estimated at 55,000, the Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014 with the objective of increasing awareness, ensuring early diagnosis and intervention and developing enhanced community based services. The Strategy emphasises that most people with dementia live in their own communities and can continue to live well and to participate in those communities for far longer than many people appreciate.

In parallel with the Strategy, the Department of Health and the HSE agreed a joint initiative with the Atlantic Philanthropies to implement significant elements of the Strategy over the period 2014-2017. This Implementation Programme represents a combined investment of €27.5m, with the Atlantic Philanthropies contributing €12m and the HSE €15.5m. The Programme includes the provision of intensive home care packages for people with dementia, the upskilling of GPs and primary care teams in dementia diagnosis and management, and a public awareness and inclusion campaign. A National Dementia Office has been established to drive implementation of the Strategy in the HSE.

I am happy to be able to confirm that my Department has recently secured funding of €1.23 million under the 2017 Dormant Accounts Action Plan to support a number of dementia projects. These include post-diagnostic supports, dementia friendly communities, assistive technology libraries and further exploratory work on the development of a national dementia registry. These measures will help ensure that people with dementia can live well in their communities for as long as possible.

An evaluation of the Dementia Advisers employed by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland has commenced by the HSE. It would be appropriate to await the outcome of this evaluation before considering the appointment of additional advisers.

The National Dementia Office has undertaken a project to examine the role of the Key Worker for people with dementia, a commitment as outlined in the National Dementia Strategy. There are a number of potential models and approaches and the NDO is currently identifying these with a view to determining a suitable approach to this action under the Strategy.

The Department and the HSE are working on a mid-term review of the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy which will identify the achievements so far and set out the further work that is required to implement the Strategy over the next 12 months and beyond. The resources required for the ongoing implementation of the Strategy, including in relation to the role of key worker, can only be considered in the context of the Estimates and Budget process. The mid-term review will assist in identifying further actions required and will be helpful in the context of budgetary considerations.