At the outset, I would like to join, as everyone here has, in warmly welcoming to Leinster House Cian and Jordan Adams, the FTB brothers, and also Cian's partner, Helen, who played such a vital and key role in the whole 33 marathons in 33 days. They are most welcome. It was a remarkable fundraising odyssey and their extraordinary determination, resilience and love has inspired people across this country. They have undertaken this challenge in memory of their beloved mother, Geraldine, who sadly passed away at the young age of 52. They have not only raised awareness of dementia and led us to remember their mother but they have also raised vital funds that will be used in the battle against this awful disease. Their courage reminds us that behind every diagnosis is a family, a story and a community carrying both hope and heartache. As we know, dementia is one of the greatest health and social care challenges facing this nation. It affects tens of thousands of people across every county and touches countless families who watch loved ones gradually lose memories, independence and, in many cases, a sense of self. Indeed, my own mother succumbed to Lewy body dementia just last November, so I and my family know about the major impact it has and that impact is profound, not only on those living with dementia but also on spouses, children, siblings and carers who provide unwavering support every single day. While progress has been made, too many families still, unfortunately, face long wait lists for diagnosis, unequal access to specialist services and significant gaps in community supports. In many parts of the country, families are struggling to access respite care, home support hours, day services and specialist dementia care when they need it most. No family should feel abandoned at the point of diagnosis or be left to navigate this journey alone. I also want to pay tribute to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, ASI, which has done Trojan work and continues to do Trojan work right across the country in supporting families and those affected by this awful illness and disease. I ask the Minister of State to please commit to meeting with representatives from the Alzheimer Society of Ireland as they present their budget asks. The programme for Government commitment, in particular the statutory home care scheme, must be something we seriously look at bringing into being following its insertion in multiple programmes for Government. We have to commit to a system that prioritises early diagnosis and expands community-based supports and also strengthens respite services and ensures that adequate investment in dementia-specific residential care is also in place. We also have to recognise and support family carers. Their contribution, as we all know and has been stated multiple times, saves the State millions upon millions of euro in terms of their input into care of their loved ones. They also provide dignity and comfort for those loved ones. It has been said before that the measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. People living with dementia deserve compassion, dignity and the highest standard of care. It is time for us to remember and honour their voices and support their families. We have to look to an island where no person who is facing dementia is left behind. We simply have to do better. I look forward to the Minister of State's commitment on this.

Sentiment score: 0.40