Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1113. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider increasing respite care for patients with dementia or Alzheimer's (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47553/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Supporting people with dementia to remain living in their own homes and communities is a priority for the Government. Since 2021, €19 million in new funding has been allocated towards improving dementia care, focused primarily on improving access to diagnosis on the one hand, and improving the availability of a variety of community supports, on the other.

New community supports provided over the past five years include additional day care services, the introduction and scaling up of dementia day care at home, and the introduction of activity clubs for young onset dementia. All of these services have the dual purpose of providing social stimulation to people with dementia, and enabling family carers to take a break from their caring role.

Respite care is another vital part of the toolkit to support family carers of people with dementia. It may involve providing alternative family or residential care to enable the carer to take a short break, a holiday or a rest. Residential respite may be provided for people with dementia in both dementia-specific and generic residential facilities, subject to availability.

The Government recognises the vital work done by family carers and the impact that caring can have on carers' physical and mental health. The results of a survey published by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland in September 2023 entitled "The Experience of Dementia in Ireland: A Snapshot in Time" emphasises the need for respite options for carers, including in the evenings and at weekends. Some respondents felt that available respite options are not suitable for people with dementia, highlighting the need for a suite of services to provide adequate support to people with dementia and their carers.

The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments related to the work of my Department, including to fully fund the Carer's Guarantee; and to progressively increase funding for respite services, including the Home Support Emergency Respite Scheme. These commitments will be progressed over the lifetime of the Government.

Annual funding of €2.6 million is currently provided towards delivering the Carer’s Guarantee, in tandem with the community and voluntary sector. The bulk of the funding, €2.44 million is being provided to Family Carers Ireland to deliver a mix of community and individual supports across five areas of activity, including: education and training, community carer supports, intensive and emergency supports, a freephone careline, and psychosocial supports. The remaining €160,000 supports the development and delivery of online supports for over 8,000 family carers through Care Alliance Ireland by means of an online support group. In addition, since 2021, the ‘Home Support Emergency Respite Scheme’ has been funded by the HSE through Family Carers Ireland to provide emergency respite care to family carers.

Under the Women’s Health Fund, funding of €250,000 has also been approved for a project to support midlife and older women family carers, including carers of people with dementia. The project aims to research the impact of the gendered nature of family caring on midlife and older women’s health and wellbeing and to develop effective responses to support women carers. The project is being undertaken by Family Carers Ireland with oversight by the Department of Health.

In addition, an inter-departmental working group to examine and review the system of means-tested payments for family carers has been established. The working group is chaired by the Department of Social Protection, with membership from the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. The working group is considering a range of supports for family carers, including the provision of respite, and will report its findings to me and the Ministers for Social Protection and Children, Disability and Equality once finalised.