Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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400. To ask the Minister for Health whether younger-onset dementia is recognised within care standards as distinct to dementia in people over the age of 65; whether there is funding allocated specifically for age-appropriate dementia services for this cohort of people; if there are specific in-home and respite care supports for families where a person under 65 has dementia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22982/25]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The HSE’s 2023 Dementia Model of Care recognises the unique needs of people with young onset dementia, many of whom have young children, may still be in employment and may be financially supporting the family. In addition, younger people often present with atypical symptoms or rarer forms of dementia, meaning that diagnosis may be more complex and may take longer. The Dementia Model of Care makes specific recommendations on communicating a diagnosis of young onset dementia, both to the person receiving the diagnosis and to their spouse/partner and children. It specifically recommends that 100% of people with young onset dementia be referred in the first instance to a social worker. The importance of age-appropriate dementia-specific activities and peer support for people with young onset dementia is also highlighted in the Model of Care.

Since 2021, the Government has worked to progressively increase funding for dementia services and supports so that every person with dementia, regardless of their age, can get the supports that they need to live as well and as independently as possible.

€19 million in new, recurring funding for dementia has been allocated over the past five budgets to implement the National Dementia Strategy and the Dementia Model of Care. This includes the establishment of Memory Assessment and Support Services, new and expanded Regional Specialist Memory Clinics and a National Intellectual Disability Memory Service to improve access to dementia diagnostic and post-diagnostic support services. Other post-diagnostic support services include the national Dementia Adviser service and the national network of Memory Technology Resource Rooms.

People with young onset dementia have the same access to all these services as those over 65. Many are diagnosed in Regional Specialist Memory Clinics due to the complexity of reaching a diagnosis, and there are four such Clinics in operation, two in Dublin and one each in Cork and Galway. 50-75% of people with intellectual disability and Down Syndrome are under 65, and a National Intellectual Disability Memory Service is operational in Tallaght University Hospital.

Since 2021, the Government has also prioritised the improvement of community-based services for people with dementia. This includes investment in dementia day care, day care at home and activity clubs for young onset dementia. The Government has allocated over €2.2 million in funding to day care centres operated by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI), and there are 57 centres currently in operation. In addition, nearly €2.6 million has been allocated for the provision of dementia day care at home. Day care at home was first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic for people who for a variety of reasons cannot attend a day care centre.

People with young onset dementia can access dementia day care centres and dementia day care at home on the same basis as people over 65 with dementia. However, the Government recognises that people with young onset dementia may have difficulty fitting into existing dementia day care centre provision. For this reason, Budget 2024 funded the Alzheimer Society of Ireland to pilot activity clubs for young onset dementia, and this funding has been made recurring from 2025 onwards. The clubs provide an opportunity for people with young onset dementia to socialise together while engaging in activities that match their interests. There are now eight activity clubs in place around the country, with four additional clubs planned this year. It is important to note that day care, day care at home and activity clubs for young onset dementia also provide vital support to families, allowing them to have a break from caring and take time to look after their own health and well-being.

The 2025 Programme for Government includes eight dementia-specific commitments, one of which is a commitment to roll out more young onset dementia supports. In partnership with the HSE, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and others, the Government will continue to build on the already substantial investment in dementia over the next five years to ensure that all people with dementia, including those with young onset dementia, together with their families, get the supports they need to live well at home for as long as possible, and have access to high quality residential care if required.