Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - Health Services.

Richard Bruton

Question:

409 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has developed a strategy for investing in new services to cater for the needs of patients with Alzheimer's disease; the schedule of investments intended; the progress to date in rolling out this investment; if the neces sary therapeutic and rehabilitation resources are currently available to public sector patients with this condition, particularly patients who are aged under 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7763/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Callely)

The Department's policy on providing adequate services for patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease is as set out in the report, An Action Plan for Dementia, published by the National Council on Ageing and Older People in 1999. This commitment is endorsed in the 2001 health strategy, Equality and Fairness.

Since 1999, the following additional funding has been provided in this area of service:

		€ million
2000	Psychiatry of old age	0.634
	Services provided by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland	1.270
	Alzheimer Society of Ireland (core funding)	0.127
	Support to Carers*	1.270
2001	Psychiatry of old age	2.374
	Services provided by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland	0.507
	Alzheimer Society of Ireland (core funding)	0.254
	Support to Carers*	2.540
	Dementia Information Centre	0.127
2002	Psychiatry of old age	1.831
	Services provided by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland	0.451
	Alzheimer Society of Ireland (core funding)	0.127
	Support to Carers*	1.029
2003	Psychiatry of old age	0.670
	Alzheimer Society of Ireland (core funding)	0.200

*Only some of whom provide care to sufferers of Alzheimer's/dementia.

As can be seen from the above figures, services to Alzheimer's sufferers are provided by both the public and voluntary sectors. It is a sad fact that this disease does not confine itself to older people. Accordingly, in the administration of services to Alzheimer patients, there is no deliberate distinction between the over 65s and those under 65.