Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2026
346. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the total number of people with a diagnosis of early onset dementia or Alzheimer’s disease that are currently in receipt of social protection financial supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31518/26]
View answer347. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the total number of people with a diagnosis of early onset dementia or Alzheimer’s disease that are currently in receipt of social protection financial supports, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31519/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together.
The medical conditions available on the Department systems are generally those included on the application form by the person's doctor. Due to how this data is structured and stored, it is not possible to report on specific conditions such as those mentioned by the Deputy; however a high-level analysis of ICD chapter F, Mental and Behavioral Disorders, which includes dementia and Alzheimer's disease, is set out in the table below. At the end of March 2026, there were 92,916 recipients of Disability Allowance, care recipients on Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit, with an ICD code under chapter F.
The breakdown by county is provided in the table below.
|
County |
People |
|
Carlow |
1,453 |
|
Cavan |
1,429 |
|
Clare |
2,010 |
|
Cork |
11,721 |
|
Donegal |
3,210 |
|
Dublin |
22,299 |
|
Galway |
4,794 |
|
Kerry |
3,079 |
|
Kildare |
3,714 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,721 |
|
Laois |
2,171 |
|
Leitrim |
639 |
|
Limerick |
4,849 |
|
Longford |
1,069 |
|
Louth |
2,666 |
|
Mayo |
2,098 |
|
Meath |
3,364 |
|
Monaghan |
931 |
|
Offaly |
2,332 |
|
Roscommon |
1,340 |
|
Sligo |
1,226 |
|
Tipperary |
3,919 |
|
Waterford |
2,454 |
|
Westmeath |
2,226 |
|
Wexford |
3,432 |
|
Wicklow |
2,746 |
|
Unknown |
24 |
|
Total |
92,916
|
