Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
69. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the steps that she is taking to increase the number of HSE community nursing home dementia beds which have decreased by 12% between 2020 and 2024, to increase community dementia respite beds, and to build capacity to address forecasting suggesting that the number of people with the condition in Ireland will more than double by 2050; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4911/26]
View answerThe Government is committed to improving services for the rising number of people living with dementia in Ireland and for their family carers. The 2025 Programme for Government commits to including dementia specific provision across all new Community Nursing Units, alongside a commitment to build more public nursing home beds.
A working group has been convened to develop a new Capacity Plan for the delivery of additional public long-term residential care beds for older people. It is intended to publish the Long-Term Residential Care Additional Capacity Plan in early 2026. Delivery of additional beds will be subject to prioritisation and the availability of funding. The programme is included for progression in the NDP Health Sectoral Plan 2026-2030, published in Nov 2025. Consideration of the additional dementia-specific bed requirement will be included as part of this programme of work.
The Programme for Government also includes specific commitments to increase the provision of dementia services including day care, day care at home, dementia diagnostic services, young onset dementia supports, home support and dementia adviser services, as well as the development of an Irish Dementia Registry. The Government has been working in partnership with the HSE and the voluntary sector to progressively increase the amount and range of services provided to people with dementia in line with the HSE Dementia Model of Care. These services include new dementia diagnostic services, a national dementia adviser service, a national network of Memory Technology Resource Rooms, new dementia day care services, the introduction of dementia day care at home and the rollout of activity clubs for people with young onset dementia. Development of an Irish Dementia Registry commenced in mid-2025.
In relation to respite specifically, both centre-based and home-based day care as well as activity clubs for young onset dementia provide a break from caring for family carers, while also providing meaningful activity and social stimulation for the person with dementia. It is acknowledged that a range of respite options are required to meet the needs of people with dementia and their families, and this includes both residential and in-home respite services.
As this is a service-related matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
