Vol. 398 No. 1
61 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health if he will consider favourably the appointment of speech therapists to special schools, with particular reference to St. Ultan's School and St. Mary's School, Navan, County Meath, in view of the fact that speech therapy is vital for the educational needs of the mentally handicapped.
The development planned this year for the north-eastern region includes the recruitment of an additional speech therapist in the Meath area to work with people with a mental handicap.
The deployment of available staff in the North-Eastern Health Board for this purpose is a matter for decision by the board having regard to the competing requirements of other services.
However, an additional £2 million has been allocated for the development of mental handicap services to meet the priority needs identified in each health board area.
