Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 May 2024
289. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on implementation of the Model of Care for Dementia; the funding provided to this model of care to date since its publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20010/24]
View answerIn May 2023, the HSE published the Model of Care for Dementia, building on commitments made in the National Dementia Strategy around timely diagnosis, intervention and care. The Model of Care sets out a comprehensive framework and associated targets for timely, integrated dementia assessment, diagnosis, post-diagnostic support and care for people living with dementia in Ireland.
Improving dementia diagnostic and community services has been a priority for this Government over the past four years. To support the evolving Model of Care, the Government allocated €5.9m in new recurring funding in 2021 and €7.3m in 2022. A further recurring €0.9m was provided in 2023. Last year we also provided €2.1 million on an ongoing basis for the reopening of dementia day care centres to full capacity, and there are now 52 Alzheimer Society of Ireland day care centres in operation. A minimum of 18% of new home support hours is being allocated to people with dementia in 2024, up from 15% in 2023.
For 2024 an additional recurring €0.5 million for dementia day care at home has been allocated, as well as €300,000 once-off for weekend activity clubs for people with young onset dementia. The additional day care at home has commenced in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Western Alzheimer's, and the weekend activity clubs, to be provided by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, are scheduled to commence in September.
Recurring Government funding in successive years has enabled the establishment of a National Dementia Adviser Service and a national network of Memory Technology Resource Rooms, providing post-diagnostic supports to thousands of clients and their families each year.
In Budgets 2021-2023, Government provided recurring funding for 10 new Memory Assessment and Support Services, two new Regional Specialist Memory Clinics, enhancement of two existing Regional Specialist Memory Clinics and the National Intellectual Disability Memory Service. To date, three new Memory Assessment and Support Services are operational, in Mayo, Sligo and Cavan/Monaghan; a new Regional Specialist Memory Clinic has commenced in Cork; two existing Regional Specialist Memory Clinics in Dublin have been strengthened, and the National Intellectual Disability Memory Service is operational in Tallaght University Hospital. Partial recruitment has taken place to a further five Memory Assessment and Support Services. Consideration will be given to the recruitment of additional staff in the context of future budgets.
