asked the Minister for Health the number of speech therapists employed by his Department, the counties to which they are allocated and if he will make a statement on the alarming shortage of such therapists.
Written Answers. - Employment of Speech Therapist.
195.
My Department do not employ speech therapists. There are 55 speech therapists employed by health boards as follows:
|
Eastern |
16 |
|
Midland |
3 |
|
Mid-Western |
3 |
|
North-Eastern |
4 |
|
North-Western |
3 |
|
Southern |
4 |
|
South-Eastern |
12 |
|
Western |
10 |
In addition to those employed by the health boards 17 speech therapists are employed by public voluntary hospitals and 17 by voluntary organisations.
Speech therapy is a developing service, training for which commenced in this country only in 1969, the first graduates becoming available in 1972. Until 1979 students were trained in the Dublin College of Speech Therapy which could only cater for an annual intake of 15 students. As from the current academic year training has been transferred to Trinity College and the annual intake of students has been increased to 20. The question of a further expansion of training is at present under consideration by my Department. Of the 48 students at present in training 32 are sponsored by health boards and a condition of the sponsorship is that on qualification they will work for the health board for a certain number of years.