Séamus Pattison
Ceist:41 Mr. Pattison asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there is an acute shortage of speech therapists; and if he will outline the steps he is taking to rectify the situation.
Written Answers. - Speech Therapists.
Tony Gregory
Ceist:59 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the severe shortage of speech therapists for mentally handicapped children; if he will outline his plans to increase the number of speech therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:71 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number and location of speech therapists operating in the Eastern Health Board area; the number working in County Kildare; the number of persons requiring speech therapy in County Kildare at present; if it is expected to meet their needs in the current year; if he will outline his intentions in relation to the provision of an adequate service in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
John V. Farrelly
Ceist:383 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to alleviate the serious shortage of speech therapists required to deal with the 2,000 cases in the North Eastern Health Board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos, 41, 59, 71 and 383 together.
I am aware that there is concern about the present level of speech therapy provision. In particular, there have been representations about the needs for additional speech therapists for the mental handicap services.
It is a matter for each health board to assess the needs for different categories of health personnel in its area and to apportion the resources available to them in accordance with the priorities fixed. Health boards are at present drawing up their detailed budget plans for the current year and in this connection I understand that the North Eastern Health Board are examining the possibility of strengthening their speech therapy services.
In so far as mental handicap services are concerned, any proposal for additional speech therapists should ideally form part of an agreed prioritised coordinated service plan proposed by the health boards' Mental Handicap Coordinating Committees which are representative of the main service providers in each area. In the area of the Eastern Health Board, there are 25 speech therapists employed in the community care services, 25 in the hospitals and 20 in voluntary organisations for the physically and mentally handicapped. The board have not yet filled the two vacancies in Kildare to which I referred in my reply to a question by the Deputy on 21 November last but they are awaiting applications in response to recent advertisements for the purpose.