As the Taoiseach will be aware, dementia advisers work not only with people with dementia but with their families and carers to provide a highly responsive and individualised information and signposting service. Kildare is one of the counties that does not have the services of a dementia adviser. I have worked and engaged with the Kildare branch of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, as has the Ceann Comhairle, and we both know the great benefit the appointment of a dementia adviser will bring to Kildare residents. This and the funding of an additional 1 million home care hours announced in the budget last week should help to keep people with dementia and other vulnerable and ill members of society in their homes for longer. When does the Taoiseach expect the ten additional dementia advisers to come on stream and benefit dementia sufferers, their families and carers in new areas of the country?

I thank the Deputy for this question. I am delighted that budget 2020 was able to deliver on one of the key requests of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, namely, to ensure we have a dementia adviser in every county. The Deputy has pursued the matter with respect to County Kildare on a number of occasions. We will outline the recruitment process in the HSE service plan. Ten additional dementia advisers will be recruited in 2020, ensuring there is one in every county. I acknowledge the work of the cross-party group on dementia in this House, of which Deputy Buckley is a convenor, and also the input of Senator Kelleher. We have worked in a cross-party, bipartisan way on this issue and I am delighted to be able to report that progress.