Vol. 413 No. 1
146 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Health if she has considered the application by the Mid-Western Health Board for the approval of the creation of three posts of speech therapists, to staff language disorder units proposed by the board; if she will sanction the appointments at the earliest date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The question of establishing language disorder units in the Mid-Western Health Board area is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education, to decide upon. I understand that his Department are currently investigating the need for the units in conjunction with the Mid-Western Branch of the Language Disorder Support Group. In that regard the support group has been asked to supply psychological and psycholinguistic reports in respect of those children for whom the facilities are being sought and I am informed that further consideration of the issue is dependent on receipt of this essential documentation.
In view of the foregoing the Deputy will appreciate that consideration by my Department of the sanctioning of speech therapists posts at this stage is premature.
