Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:207. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made towards the development of a National Dementia Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42231/12]
View answerWednesday, 3 October 2012
Questions (207)
Written answers
The Programme for Government gives a commitment to develop a National Strategy on Dementia by 2013 which will increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention, and enhance community based services for people living with this condition.
The first stage of the process was to assemble the research and evidence upon which the strategy will be developed. This was completed earlier this year and the report of the findings Creating Excellence in Dementia Care: a Research Review for Ireland's National Dementia Strategy has been published. A guide for the general public, Future Dementia Care in Ireland: Sharing the Evidence to Mobilise Action was compiled to disseminate the report’s findings and to give a better understanding of dementia. Both the report and the guide are available at www.doh.ie.
A public consultation process which sought the views of interested parties, to help inform the development of the strategy concluded in August and officials are currently examining the responses. Following on from this process a working group will be established to develop the strategy.