Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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547. To ask the Minister for Health the measures his Department is taking to assist and support an initiative (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21187/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Dementia-Inclusive Communities Initiative has its origins in the National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme, co-funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). As part of this Implementation Programme, Atlantic Philanthropies and the HSE provided funding of over €3.5 million for the Dementia: Understand Together stigma reduction campaign over the period 2015 to 2018.

Following the conclusion of the national TV campaign in 2018, the focus shifted to the development of a national framework to create Dementia-Inclusive Communities called Dementia: Understand Together in Communities . The HSE funded a Dementia Community Activation Coordinator through a Service Level Agreement with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland for a one-year period, and this post and programme costs were then funded through the Department of Health via the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Since Budget 2021, the Government has provided ongoing annual funding of €127,000 to support Dementia: Understand Together in Communities , which includes a national coordinator post. The HSE also provides ongoing funding to support communications that aim to build understanding of dementia and the lived experience of the condition. This includes promotion of the new Community symbol which acts as a symbol of support for people with dementia and a connecting thread for all the dementia inclusive activities happening across Ireland. The HSE has confirmed that total combined HSE and Department of Health funding for this initiative amounts to over €1.8 million between 2019 and 2024.

Dementia: Understand Together in Communities aims to mobilise a network of national organisations and local community champions across Ireland to develop Dementia-Inclusive Communities. It is a new and innovative approach that focuses on the power of peer influence in effecting change. The campaign seeks to build understanding around dementia in Ireland, and to inspire individuals, businesses, organisations and service providers to take action to support people living with dementia in their communities.

The campaign is led by the Health Service Executive (HSE), in partnership with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Age Friendly Ireland, Healthy Ireland, the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre, and Age & Opportunity. The campaign working group includes representatives from these organisations as well as people with dementia and family carers.

Over 40 national organisations and 1,000 community champions are now supporting the campaign, including transport providers, retailers, libraries, galleries and museums, community and charity groups such as Men's Sheds and the GAA. People with dementia and family carers have also been involved from the outset, and local dementia alliances have formed in several counties. The Understand Together website (scanner.topsec.com/?d=2120&r=show&u=www.understandtogether.ie&t=a2baf53176200b1c3962d52654bcc6da3c9d7846) includes a national service finder and a sign up form for new community champions, and also hosts training for financial services, transport providers and retailers.

The Dementia: Understand Together campaign is founded in a strong evidence base. The campaign is measured by national surveys, digital and social engagement, media coverage, and events and engagement with partner organisations and community champions. Research findings show that the campaign has led to positive change in public awareness, understanding and attitudes around dementia. It has also led to tangible positive actions to support people with dementia in communities throughout Ireland, and the Government will continue to support this important initiative.

Dementia: Understand Together is one of a range of dementia initiatives that have received Government funding over the past four years. To support the implementation of the 2023 Dementia Model of Care, the Government has funded the establishment of diagnostic memory services including Memory Assessment and Support Services, Regional Specialist Memory Clinics and a National Intellectual Disability Memory Service. A range of post-diagnostic and community services have also been funded, including the National Dementia Adviser service, the national network of Memory Technology Resource Rooms, dementia day care at home, the return to full capacity of dementia day care centres and the establishment of weekend activity clubs for young onset dementia. Posts have also been funded to improve hospital care, and a dementia education programme for HSE home support workers is being rolled out. The Dementia: Understand Together in Communities campaign is being implemented in tandem with these initiatives, helping to ensure that people with dementia can continue to live as well as possible for as long as possible in their own homes and communities.