James Evans is calling for the Welsh Government to help provide more support for dementia sufferers and their families.

The Brecon and Radnorshire MS said at the Senedd that there’s a charity in his constituency called Dementia Matters which does vital work in helping patients and their families.

Mr Evans said: “My constituency is home to a growing elderly population, with the average number of dementia patients going up year on year.

“But despite the great work that Dementia Matters do, they are currently facing the threat of closure due to a lack of funding.

“I've reached out to the Powys Teaching Health Board and the rural partnership board on this matter because I was aware that there was a surplus budget in their funding this year.

“However, for some reason, Dementia Matters in Powys cannot access that funding.”

Mr Evans invited First Minister Mark Drakeford to visit Dementia Matters.

He said: “I'm not asking for more money. But what pressure can the Welsh Government put on the regional partnership board to make sure that any surplus budget goes on supporting people with dementia in my constituency?”

The First Minister thanked Mr Evans for raising the issue and said he was aware of the "fantastic work" the charity does in the constituency.

The First Minister said: "I've made some enquiries into the issues that the Member has raised this afternoon, I can't promise that the local decisions will be ones that the organisation would be content with, but what I can do is to make sure that Dementia Matters make their case directly to those who make those decisions and have their chance to have their case heard.

"I've talked with the Minister earlier today. Welsh Government officials will intervene to make sure that if Dementia Matters feel they've not been able to have those conversations, they've not been able to put that case to those who have the funding, then we will make sure that they have that opportunity.

"While I've no idea if there is any surplus money—it would be very unusual in my experience—it is the case that as well as the £12 million that goes to support the dementia action plan directly, in the first year of the regional investment fund, £26.5 million went to the third sector and analogous organisations, and there's a commitment to spend 20 per cent of the fund in that way.

"I want to make sure that Dementia Matters has its opportunity to make its case for part of that funding. After that, the decisions are made quite properly elsewhere. We'll make sure that that opportunity is delivered to them."