3757. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to support a pre-Budget submission by an organisation (details supplied) for investment in new and expanded dementia-specific day care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62773/26]

As Minister of State with responsibility for Older People and Housing, I am fully committed to supporting people with dementia and their families by focusing on the expansion of dementia diagnostic and community-based services in line with the Programme for Government commitments on dementia.

New Government funding has been allocated annually since 2021 to increase the availability of dementia community-based services. The Department of Health and the HSE work in partnership with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) on an ongoing basis to strengthen the delivery of high-quality community-based supports for people living with dementia and their families.

In Budget 2026, an additional €2.27 million in funding was allocated for dementia, bringing the total new investment in dementia to €21.27 million since 2021. The 2026 funding included €700,000 for the ASI for additional dementia advisers, day care services and day care at home. It also included €270,000 to fully fund the National Dementia Registry, €300,000 to improve access to diagnostic scans, and approximately €1 million to address the full year cost of 6 consultant posts for Memory Assessment and Support Services.

The HSE has committed in its 2026 National Service Plan to opening 7 Memory Assessment and Support Services, together with a fifth Regional Specialist Memory Clinic in North Dublin. It has also committed to allocating a minimum of 22% of all new home support hours to people with dementia or cognitive impairment.

The requests made by the ASI in their pre-budget submission, including the provision of additional dementia-specific day care, will be considered as part of the wider budgetary and policy context of the 2027 estimates process.