Care of the Elderly.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2004

Tuesday, 17 February 2004

Questions (271)

Richard Bruton

Question:

357 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has carried out an assessment of the number of long-term public care beds capable of caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many patients with medical card cover are forced to seek care in the private sector because of the lack of suitable facilities funded by the Government; if he believes that this situation honours the Government's legal obligations to medical card holders under the Health Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4512/04]

Written answers

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

The development of services for people with Alzheimer's disease is based on the Action Plan for Dementia, published by the National Council on Ageing and Older People in 1999. Considerable progress has been made in service development since the publication of the report and, in each of the years since 1999, my Department has provided additional funding to psychiatry of old age — more than €5 million — and to the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland for services delivered — more than €2 million. In addition, carers of Alzheimer's sufferers have benefited from the €5 million the Department has made available, in the same period, specifically for the support of carers. Health boards are making progress in the provision of stand alone dementia units.

However, I accept there is need to continue with the provision of respite services in order to provide relief to carers, the development of day hospitals and day-care facilities, the provision of support to carers, including training programmes, and the development of the old age psychiatry programme to its full potential. It will be my policy to prioritise these issues as resources permit.