The Irish government launched a National Dementia Registry to enhance care planning and service delivery for individuals living with dementia, according to Euractiv.
Announced by Minister for Older People and Housing Kieran O’Donnell at a Trinity College Dublin symposium, the registry will be developed by the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA) under the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The Programme for Government commits to developing a National Dementia Registry to map services, identify need and plan the delivery of equitable access to services.
The registry will compile data on diagnoses, treatment pathways, post-diagnostic support, and quality of life metrics, aligning with the HSE’s Dementia Model of Care.
Since 2021, Ireland allocated €19 million to expand memory assessment services and community supports. The registry will initially gather diagnostic data from Memory Assessment and Support Services, regional clinics, and the National Intellectual Disability Memory Service.
A Department of Health spokesperson confirmed it will also track future disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) as they become available.
The initiative dovetails with EU efforts, including the Joint Action on Dementia and Alzheimer Europe’s 2021–2025 strategy, which prioritise timely diagnosis, rights-based care, and inclusive research. However, Dr. Seán O’Dowd, HSE Clinical Lead for Dementia, cautioned that advances like DMTs must not overshadow broader needs.
This must not compromise access to appropriate person-centred care and supports for the great number of people who will not be eligible for such treatments.
Europe faces escalating demand, with dementia cases projected to rise from 9.1 million in 2018 to 18.7 million by 2050. The move reflects a growing recognition of dementia as a critical public health challenge, demanding coordinated, cross-border solutions to ensure equitable care amid ageing populations.
