Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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409. To ask the Minister for Health further to the announcements in budget 2020, the number of dementia advisers to be recruited in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41927/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

In line with the continued rollout of the Sláintecare Implementation Plan, funding of €10 million has been secured in Budget 2020 to invest in the enhancement of community services, including allied health professionals, with a full year investment of €60 million for 2021. The additional full year funding of €60 million will provide for up to 1,000 therapists, nurses and other professionals in the community. It will also facilitate the recruitment of 10 dementia advisers; further details will be outlined in the HSE National Service Plan for 2020.