asked the Minister for Health if an adequate speech therapy service will be provided for a school for retarded children (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of the huge waiting list for such a service.
Written Answers. - Speech Therapy.
399.
There are three full time and one part time speech therapists employed by the South Eastern Health Board in the Wexford community care area. The total approved complement is three and the part time therapist was approved by the board on the basis of diversification of funds to meet in part, the great demand for speech therapy sessions in the area. From the resources available four sessions per week are being provided for the children in the school to which the Deputy refers. In view of the current economic difficulties and the restrictions on the recruitment of additional personnel the health board is unable to fund the employment of a full time speech therapist exclusively for this school.