Dementia supports
Deputy Carrigy praised dementia supports and highlighted the distress caused by frontotemporal dementia in a family with Irish links. The Taoiseach commended awareness efforts, praised the Minister of State's work, and said more day-care and support services are still needed.
I acknowledge the good work in the area of dementia supports. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has done a huge amount of work over the years, as has the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
At the weekend, I happened to be watching the London marathon and saw a young guy by the name of Jordan Adams running it with a fridge on his back to signify the weight that he carries, given that he has a gene that means he will develop frontotemporal dementia, FTD, which will shorten his life. His mother was of Irish heritage and 11 members of their family have died from this. Having started in Antrim, he and his brother are running a marathon in all 32 counties in Ireland.
This is particularly personal to me. My mother Eilish passed away from dementia during Covid and I have seen what that did to her and to us as a family in trying to deal with it. I have also seen the support we were given when we went looking for it, particularly from the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, to help us through that. I would ask people across the country, and Members, to look up where the marathon is taking place in their county and support these men who are looking to highlight dementia. On Thursday, 28 May, they will finish in Merrion Square. I ask that Members please be there to support them.
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Carrigy for raising what is a very important issue and for sharing his personal experience with us about the impact of dementia on family and on individuals. I commend the runners for their initiative to create awareness. The Deputy correctly credited the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who does fantastic work, particularly in the area of day care centres. There are 60 such centres now across the country. I remember how five or six years ago we had very few. We now have 60. We need to continue to work on this and we need to continue to do more. The advisers are very important. We need to invest more in research to understand it better and to develop greater therapeutics that can stall and delay dementia. There is a lot happening in that world. That is why investment in research, investment in care and investment in supports, above all for families and individuals who have dementia, is critical.