Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2013
494. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of submissions that were received regarding the dementia strategy and if he will provide a full progress report on the development of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13659/13]
View answer496. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if and when consultation meetings will take place in relation to the development of the dementia strategy; the persons who will be asked to participate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13660/13]
View answer497. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the date on which he will publish the dementia strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13661/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 494, 496 and 497 together.
The Programme for Government gave a commitment to develop a National Strategy on Dementia which will increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention, and enhance community based services for all people living with this condition, and to do so by the end of 2013. The Department of Health and Atlantic Philanthropies commissioned a research review to create the evidence that will help to lay the foundations for the Strategy and to provide guidelines as to the future direction of public policy in Ireland. The research review, titled Creating Excellence in Dementia Care, A Research Review for Ireland’s National Dementia Strategy, has been completed and is available on the websites of Trinity College at livingwithdementia.tcd.ie and on the Department of Health website at www.doh.ie
A public consultation process which sought the views of interested parties to help inform the development of the strategy concluded at the end of August 2012. 73 submissions were received, these were analysed and a report was published in February 2013. A working group to develop the Strategy will be established shortly with a view to finalising and publishing the Dementia Strategy by the end of this year.
