Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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273. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 5 July 2017, the additional services that will be provided in 2018 in relation to the provision of community supports for persons with dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44975/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health is working with the HSE to prepare the 2018 National Service Plan. Pending agreement of the National Service Plan, I am not in a position to comment either on the funding that will be made available for dementia care or the specific services that will be provided.

An evaluation of the Dementia Advisers employed by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland has commenced. It would be appropriate to await the outcome of this evaluation before considering the appointment of additional advisers. The National Dementia Office is examining the role of Key Worker for people with dementia, a commitment 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.

My Department secured €2.28 million in funding under the 2016 and 2017 Dormant Accounts Action Plans to support a number of initiatives relevant to dementia. These include the continuation of innovative community based projects for people with dementia, the establishment of Assistive Technology Libraries in each Community Healthcare Organisation, the provision of post-diagnostic supports for people with dementia, further work on the proposed establishment of a National Dementia Registry, and the development of Dementia Friendly Community Groups.

The Department of Health and the HSE are working on a mid-term review 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 in 2018 and beyond.