Bernard J. Durkan
Question:159 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to provide extra facilities and funding for Alzheimer sufferers in County Kildare. [16072/04]
View answerThursday, 27 May 2004
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The Department's policy on providing services for patients suffering from the 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. The policy was endorsed in the 2001 health strategy, Equality and Fairness — A Health System for You.
A number of initiatives have resulted in an improvement of dementia services. Significant additional funding was made available for the express purpose of providing assistance to carers, including carers of Alzheimer sufferers. The Alzheimer's Society of Ireland received funding to expand its services, particularly day care services. Day care facilities for people suffering from dementia were provided in a number of new community nursing units for older people that were constructed in recent years.
The provision of health services for people living in the Kildare area is a matter for the South Western Area Health Board. It acts under the aegis of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the board's CEO to investigate the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy, as a matter of urgency.