General Election 2024 – Deliver on Dementia Pledge

How can you Pledge your Support?

Pledge your support to Deliver on Dementia in the next Programme for Government on social media.

You can complete this form to pledge your support to Deliver on Dementia in the next Programme for Government

Candidates can also fill out this online form to Pledge Your Support

An estimated 64,000 people in Ireland live with dementia. By 2045, the number of people diagnosed with dementia is expected to rise to 150,000, underscoring the need for society to prepare for the future. At least 63% of people with dementia live at home in the community.  

Living with dementia can lead to isolation as those impacted struggle to access critical services like home care and community care, particularly in rural Ireland. 

Many carers also face significant financial difficulties and grapple with rising costs. It is vital that we can create a society where those affected feel supported, not side-lined.  By pledging their support, candidates can help to foster a dementia-friendly Ireland. 

Download our Manifesto at this link.

When you meet a candidate in the General Election use our Voter Prompt Card  to help outline the challenges people impacted by dementia in your community are facing.

Please use this link to print your Voter Prompt Cards that you can then hand to candidates when they visit your home.

Please view the list of candidates supporting #DementiaPledge in alphabetical order of constituency:

Carlow-Kilkenny:

• Gary O’Neill, Aontú
• Patricia Stephenson, Social Democrats
• Seán Ó hArgáin, Labour
• Tom Healy, Independent Ireland
• Orla Donohoe, Irish Freedom Party
• Adrienne Wallace, People Before Profit
• Malcolm Noonan, Green Party
• Natasha Newsome Drennan, Sinn Fein

Cavan Monaghan:

• Brendan Smith, Fine Gael
• Pauline Tully, Sinn Féin
• Cathy Bennett, Sinn Féin
• Eddie O’Gara, Green Party
• Niamh Smyth, Fianna Fáil
• Robbie Gallagher, Fianna Fáil

Clare:

• Tom Nolan, Fine Gael
• Violet-Anne Wynne, Independent
• Roisin Garvey, Green Party
• Cathal Crowe, Fianna Fáil
• Donna McGettigan, Sinn Féin
• Rita McInerney, Fianna Fáil
• Caitríona Ní Chatháin, People Before Profit
• Eddie Punch, Independent Ireland
• Hilary Tonge, Social Democrats
• Leonora Carey, Fine Gael

Cork East:

• Mona Stromsoe, Aontú
• Cliona O’Halloran, Green Party

• Deirdre O Brien, Fianna Fáil
• Kathryn Bermingham, Independent Ireland
• Mehdi Özçınar, Sinn Féin

Cork North Central:

• Mick Barry, People Before Profit
• Finian Toomey, Aontú
• Tony Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil
• Oliver Moran, Green Party
• Ciaran McCarthy, Social Democrats
• Rachel Hurley Roche, The Workers Party
• Ken O’Flynn, Independent Ireland
• Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin
• Susan Doyle, Social Democrats
• Joe Lynch, Sinn Féin

Cork North-West:

• Colette Finn, Green Party
• Nicole Ryan, Sinn Féin
• Walter Ryan-Purcell, Non-Party
• Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
• John Paul O’Shea, Fine Gael
• Aindrias Moynihan , Fianna Fáil

Cork South-Central:

• Micheal Martin, Fianna Fáil
• Michelle Cowhey-Shahid, Sinn Féin
• Monica Oikeh, Green Party

• Laura Harmon, Labour
• Mick Finn, Non-Party
• Shane Laird, People Before Profit
• Pádraig Rice, Social Democrats
• Donnachadh Ó Laoghaire, Sinn Féin

Cork South-West:

• Evie Nevin, Labour
• Clare O’Callaghan, Sinn Féin
• Holly Cairns, Social Democrats

• Zoe Laplaud, People Before Profit

Donegal:

• Francis Duffy, Green Party
• Pádraig Mac Lochlainn , Sinn Féin
• Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher, Fianna Fáil
• Charles Ward, 100% Redress Party
• Noel Jordan, Sinn Féin
• Nuala Carr, Green Party
• Mary T Sweeney, Aontú

Dublin Bay North:

• Deirdre Heney, Fianna Fáil
• Tom Brabazon, Fianna Fáil
• Cian O’Callaghan, Social Democrats
• Denise Mitchell, Sinn Féin
• Shane Folan, Labour
• Michael Burke, Independent
• David Healy, Green Party
• James Morris, Aontú
• Naoise O Muiri, Fine Gael
• Barry Heneghan, Independent

Dublin Bay South:

• Ivana Bacik, Labour
• Chris Andrews, Sinn Féin
• Jim O’Callaghan, Fianna Fáil
• Alan Healy, Aontú
• Eoin Hayes, Social Democrats
• Hazel Chu, Green Party
• Emma Blain, Fine Gael

Dublin Central:

• Neasa Hourigan, Green Party
• Mary Fitzpatrick, Fianna Fáil
• Clare Daly, Independents 4 Change
• Marie Sherlock, Labour
• Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Féin

Dublin Fingal:

• Olga Hammersley, Independents 4 Change

Dublin Fingal East:

• Dean Mulligan, Independents 4 Change
• Duncan Smith, Labour
• Ian Carey, Green Party
• Dean Mulligan, Right To Change
• Ann Graves, Sinn Féin

Dublin Fingal West:

• Bryn Edwards, People Before Profit
• Joe O’Brien, Green Party

Dublin Mid-West:

• Karla Doran, Green Party
• Gino Kenny, People Before Profit
• Eoin O’Broin, Sinn Féin
• Gino Kenny, People Before Profit
• Eoin Ó Broin, Social Democrats
• Mark Ward, Sinn Féin
• Paul Gogarty, Independent

Dublin North West:

• John Nisbet, Labour
• Conor Reddy, People Before Profit
• Roderic O’Gorman, Green Party
• Caroline Conroy, Green Party
• Stephen Redmond, The National Party/ National Alliance
• Paul McAuliffe, Fianna Fáil

Dublin Rathdown:

• Elaine Dunne, Fianna Fáil
• Síomha Ní Aonghusa, People Before Profit
• Michael Fleming, Independent
• Shaun Tracey, Sinn Féin
• Sinéad Gibney, Social Democrats

Dublin South Central:

• Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
• Joan Collins, Right To Change
• Jen Cummins, Social Democrats
• Hazel De Nortuin, People Before Profit
• Darragh Moriarty, Labour
• Patrick Costello, Green Party
• Maire Devine, Sinn Féin
• Catherine Ardagh, Fianna Fáil

Dublin South West:

• Ciarán Ahern, Labour
• Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
• Alan Edge, Non-Party
• Paul Murphy, People Before Profit

Dublin West:

• Ruth Coppinger, People Before Profit
• Natalie Treacy, Non-Party
• Paul Donnelly, Sinn Féin
• Lorna Nolan, Fianna Fáil
• Ellen Murphy, Social Democrats
• Tania Doyle, Independent

Dun Laoghaire:

• Shane O’Brien, Sinn Féin
• Hugo Mills, Social Democrats
• Cormac Devlin, Fianna Fáil
• Barry Ward, Fine Gael
• Ossian Smyth, Green Party
• Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit
• Martha Fanning, Labour

Galway East:

• Ollie Turner , Fine Gael
• Louis O’Hara, Sinn Féin
• Luke Silke, Aontú
• Conor Burke, People Before Profit
• Eoin Madden, Green Party

Galway West:

• Catherine Connolly, Non-Party
• Noel Thomas, Independent Ireland
• Padraig Lenihan, Aontú
• Pauline O’Reilly, Green Party
• John Connolly, Fianna Fáil
• Mairéad Farrell, Sinn Féin
• Seán Kyne, Fine Gael
• Hildegarde Naughton, Fine Gael
• Helen Ogbu, Labour

Kerry:

• Linda Gordon Kelleher , Fianna Fáil
• Pa Daly, Sinn Féin
• Catherina O’Sullivan, Aontú
• Cleo Murphy, Green Party
• Mike Kennedy, Labour

Kildare North:

• Naoise O’Cearuil, Fianna Fáil
• Vincent P. Martin, Green Party
• Bill Clear, Non-Party
• James Lawless, Fianna Fáil
• Evie Sammon, Fine Gael

Kildare South:

• Fiona O’Loughlin, Fianna Fáil
• Patricia Ryan, Non-Party
• Monaa K Sood , Green Party
• Chris Pender, Social Democrats
• Cathal Berry, Independent
• Melissa Byrne, Aontu

Laois:

• Elaine Mullally , Non-Party
• Aisling Moran, Non-Party

Limerick City:

• Ruairi Fahy, People Before Profit
• Paul Gavan, Sinn Féin
• Sarah Beasley, Aontú
• Elisa O’Donovan, Social Democrats
• Maurice Quinlivan, Sinn Féin
• Willie O’Dea, Fianna Fáil
• Dee Ryan, Fianna Fáil

Limerick County:

• Joanne Collins, Sinn Féin
• Rob O’Donnell, Green Party
• Gerben Uunk , Party for Animal Welfare

Longford-Westmeath:

• Tanya Cannon, Fine Gael
• Fidelma Bennett, Labour
• Micheál Carrigy, Fine Gael
• Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
• Carol Okeke, Green Party
• Gerry Warnock, Non-Party
• David Smyth, People Before Profit
• Louise Heavin, Non-Party
• Carol O’Keeke, Green Pary

Louth:

• Erin McGreehan, Fianna Fáil
• Niall McCreanor, Social Democrats
• James Renaghan, People Before Profit
• Ryan McKeown, Independent Ireland
• Alison Comyn, Fianna Fáil
• Michael O’Dowd, Aontú
• Ged Nash, Labour
• Joanna Byrne, Sinn Féin
• Marianne Butler, Green Party
• Paula Butterly, Fine Gael
• John McGahon, Fine Gael
• Antóin Watters, Sinn Féin

Mayo:

• Joe Daly, People Before Profit
• Rose Conway Walsh, Sinn Féin
• Martina Jennings, Fine Gael
• Alan Dillon, Fine Gael
• Mícheál Boxty Ó Conaill , Green Party
• Stephen Kerr, Independent

Meath East:

• Eilish Balfe, Labour
• Darren O’Rourke, Sinn Féin

• Ruadháin Bonham, Green Party
• Carolyn Fahy, Party for Animal Welfare
• Maria White , Sinn Féin
• Sinead Collins, Independent

Meath West:

• Séamus McMenamin, Green Party
• Ronan Moore, Social Democrats
• Sandy Gallagher, Labour
• Peadar Tóibín, Aontu
• Finbar Lynch, People Before Profit

Offaly:

• Fergus McDonnell, Independent Ireland
• Pippa Hackett, Green Party
• Carol Nolan, Independent
• Keishia Taylor, People Before Profit

Roscommon-Galway:

• Michael Fitzmaurice, Independent Ireland
• Eugene Murphy , Independent
• Claire Kerrane , Sinn Féin

Sligo-Leitrim:

• Marie Casserly, Independent
• Eamon Scanlon , Fianna Fáil
• Paddy O’Rourke, Fianna Fáil
• Edel McSharry, Fianna Fáil
• Bláithín Gallagher, Green Party
• Eamon Scanlon, Fianna Fáil
• Michael Clarke, Independent Ireland
• Martin Kenny, Sinn Féin
• Graham Monaghan, Aontú
• Marian Harkin, Independent

Tipperary North:

• Phyll Bugler, Fine Gael
• Iva Pocock, Green Party
• Michael Lowry, Independent
• Alan Kelly, Labour
• Diana O’Dwyer, People Before Profit
• Michael Smith , Fianna Fáil
• Phyll Bugler , Fine Gael

Tipperary South:

• Seamus Healy, Non-Party

Waterford:

• Mary Butler, Fianna Fáil
• Marc Ó Cathasaigh, Green Party
• David Cullinane, Sinn Féin
• Sadhbh O’Neill, Labour
• John Cummins, Fine Gael
• Mary Roche, Social Democrats
• Sadhbh O’ Neill , Labour
• Patrick Curtin, People Before Profit
• Conor McGuinness, Sinn Féin

Wexford:

• George Lawlor, Labour
• Michael Sheehan, Independent
• Verona Murphy , Independent
• Peadar McDonald , Green Party
• Johnny Mythen, Sinn Féin

Wicklow:

• Kellie McConnell , People Before Profit
• Edward Timmins, Fine Gael
• Gerry O’Neill, Independent
• Steven Matthews, Green Party
• Paul O’Brien, Labour
• Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats
• Ciaran Hogan, Aontú

Wicklow-Wexford:

• Ann Walsh, Green Party
• Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, Sinn Féin
• Malcolm Byrne, Fianna Fáil#

The following Candidates have not signed the pledge but have committed to meeting with The ASI in the new year:

Aontú: 

• Una O’Connor, Kildare North
• Ciaran Hogan, Aontu

Fine Gael: 

• An Taoiseach Simon Harris TD, Wicklow
• Bernard Durkan, Kildare North
• Paula Butterly, Louth
• Emma Blain, Dublin Bay South
• Grace Boland, Dublin Fingal West
• Leonara Carey, Clare
• Martin Heydon, Kildare South
• Sharon Tolan, Meath East
• Tanya Cannon, Longford-Westmeath

Voting is your right.    

It’s a chance to express your views and make a difference.  

As Ireland heads into an anticipated general election, we remind you that you can make a difference.   

Is a person’s right to vote affected by a diagnosis of dementia? 

Not necessarily. Just because a person has been diagnosed with dementia does not mean they lose their right to vote. Your right to vote can only be restricted if, at the time of voting, you cannot understand in broad terms the nature and effect of voting, and are unable to choose between candidates. 

Who decides if a person lacks capacity to vote? 

The presumption is that a person has capacity to vote unless the opposite is shown. If a person is registered to vote, the decision about whether he/she has capacity to vote on Election Day will fall to the Presiding Officer at the polling station. The Presiding Officer is the person responsible for taking the poll at a polling station. If there is a dispute about whether a person has capacity to vote this will need to be decided by the courts. 

What supports are available to a person with dementia who wishes to vote? 

If necessary, a person with dementia can ask to have their voting paper marked at the polling station by a companion or by the Presiding Officer, but the Presiding Officer can refuse to provide any assistance during the last two hours of polling. If you want a companion to assist you they must be at least 16-years-old and cannot be a candidate or an agent of a candidate. 

Let your voice be heard. Vote!  

Are you registered to vote? Learn more here.  

Voting in the General Election – more information here.  

In a heartfelt call for support, Kevin highlights the urgent need for election candidates to sign the Dementia Pledge, ensuring that dementia care remains a critical priority in the upcoming election:

LISTEN HERE

Please find the Political Party Manifestos and Health Proposals for the 2024 General Election listed below (listed in alphabetical order) 

• Aontú – Manifesto here
• Fianna Fáil – Manifesto here and Health Proposals for Older People here
• Fine Gael – Manifesto here
• Green Party – Manifesto here
• Labour Party – Manifesto here
• People Before Profit – Manifesto here
• Sinn Féin – Health Proposals here
• Social Democrats – Manifesto here