Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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556. To ask the Minister for Health when a facility (details supplied) closed since March 2020 will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13601/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and the HSE have ensured that there has been a continued focus on meeting the needs of people living with dementia throughout the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Through the Dementia Understand Together Campaign, led by the HSE and working with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI), a range of initiatives and resources have been developed, to ensure that people living with dementia stay safe, well and connected, during this time of crisis. 

Community services such as day care play an important role in enabling people with dementia to continue living in their communities.  My Department and the HSE are undertaking work to determine the current level of service delivery in the community and to set out plans, including associated required capacity, to resume services, including day services, in line with the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business and the ‘Return to work safely’ protocol. This process will take on board the learning of the current period, including the possibility of delivering services in a new way, and the requirement to adhere to public health guidance. This means that services, whilst being delivered in new ways, will gradually be restored to older people, including people with dementia. 

As the specific issue raised relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.