Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Feb 1991

Vol. 404 No. 6

Written Answers. - Health Services Programme.

Richard Bruton

Question:

182 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will outline under the seven year programme for health services the number of extra: (1) public health nurses, (2) physiotherapists, (3) speech therapists, and (4) occupational therapists who will become available in each of the next seven years.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The information requested by the Deputy is as outlined on the following tabular statement. I should point out that the population data and the rates quoted refer to the total population in each case. The relevant services are provided to the total community and there is no basis on which the service provision to public patients can be isolated.

Eastern Health Board Area Population 1,232,238

Grade	Number Employed	Number per 10,000 of Population
Public Health Nurses	406.8	3.30
Social Workers	301.5	2.45
Speech Therapists	53.1	0.43
Physiotherapists	199.7	1.62
Occupational Therapists	91.5	0.74

Midland Health Board Area Population 207,994

Grade	Number Employed	Number per 10,000 of Population
Public Health Nurses	90.3	4.34
Social Workers	27.4	1.32
Speech Therapists	10.2	0.49
Physiotherapists	22.5	1.08
Occupational Therapists	7.5	0.36

Mid-Western Health Board Area

Population 315,435

Grade	Number Employed	Number per 10,000 of Population
Public Health Nurses	115.1	3.65
Social Workers	30.5	0.97
Speech Therapists	11.0	0.35
Physiotherapists	22.8	0.72
Occupational Therapists	11.0	0.35

North-Eastern Health Board Area

Population 302,038

Grade	Number Employed	Number per 10,000 of Population
Public Health Nurses	112.4	3.72
Social Workers	20.0	0.66
Speech Therapists	7.1	0.24
Physiotherapists	26.6	0.88
Occupational Therapists	11.0	0.36

Southern Health Board Area

Population 536,894

Grade	Number Employed	Number per 10,000 of Population
Public Health Nurses	158.5	2.95
Social Workers	52.4	0.98
Speech Therapists	12.5	0.23
Physiotherapists	52.1	0.97
Occupational Therapists	21.1	0.39

Western Health Board Area

Population 348,328

Grade	Number Employed	Number per 10,000 of Population
Public Health Nurses	156.5	4.49
Social Workers	58.5	1.68
Speech Therapists	18.3	0.53
Physiotherapists	35.0	1.00
Occupational Therapists	11.8	0.34

National Totals

Population 3,540,643

Grade	Number Employed	Number per 10,000 of Population
Public Health Nurses	1,281.5	3.62
Social Workers	563.8	1.59
Speech Therapists	136.3	0.38
Physiotherapists	419.6	1.19
Occupational Therapists	183.9	0.52

The staffing figures quoted above are in respect of the public health services and consist of staff employed by health boards, voluntary joint hospitals, home for the mentally handicapped and specialist agencies.

All staffing figures are expressed in wholetime equivalence and are inclusive of locum cover.

Population figures were extracted from the Census of Population 1986. Staffing figures were extracted from the Department of Health personnel census (December 1989).