3802. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE-funded early-stage dementia support programmes currently in operation, including community activity groups and cognitive support programmes; and the plans in place to expand these services in Budget 2027. [63045/26]

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 in order 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.

Activity clubs for young onset dementia were piloted by the ASI in 2024, and recurring funding of €300,000 was allocated for these clubs in Budget 2025.

The requests set out by ASI in their pre-budget submission, which include funding for additional activity clubs for young onset dementia, and the provision of Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST) will be considered as part of the wider budgetary and policy context of the 2027 estimates process.

The number of HSE-funded early-stage dementia support programmes currently in operation, including community activity groups and cognitive support programmes, are service matters and therefore I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible with the relevant information.