Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013
616. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the national dementia strategy will be published in 2013; if an allocation of funding has been made for the 2014 Estimate in order to allow implementation of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50406/13]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a National Alzheimer’s and other Dementias' Strategy to:
- increase awareness
- ensure early diagnosis and intervention and
- ensure development of enhanced community based services.
Preparation of a draft Strategy is now at an advanced stage.
A research review funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies, titled Creating Excellence in Dementia Care, A Research Review for Ireland’s National Dementia Strategy, was published in January 2012. A public consultation process to inform the development of the Strategy was conducted in 2012 and a report of same published on the Department’s website in February 2013. A Working Group, representative of key stakeholders from my Department, the HSE, the medical profession and the community and voluntary sector has been working for some time on the preparation of a draft Strategy for consideration by myself and Dr James Reilly TD, Minister for Health and meetings of this Group are on-going.
While the development of the Strategy will have to have due regard to the constraints imposed by the budgetary situation, it is intended that it will be a transformative Strategy. It will have a very practical focus, will be action oriented and will focus on what can be done to make a difference to the lives of people with dementia. It is intended that it will be published in Q1 2014.
