Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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859. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to expand the dementia adviser service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35017/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National Dementia Strategy requires the HSE to consider the provision of dementia advisers, based on the experience of demonstrator sites. In this context, an evaluation of the Dementia Adviser Service, which was published in September 2018, recommends the continuation and expansion of the service to ensure equity of access countrywide.

The Dementia Adviser Service, established by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland in 2014, covers 12 counties: Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Limerick, parts of Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Dublin.

Seven ASI Dementia Adviser posts have been funded by the HSE since 2016, with €400,000 allocated by the HSE in each of the last 3 years towards the cost of the service. A commitment has been made to continue this funding in 2019 and in future years.

The level of funding available for the Department of Health in 2020 and the quantum of services to be provided by the HSE, including any plans to expand the Dementia Adviser service, will be considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process and National Service Planning.