Colm M. Hilliard
Question:83 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Health if he will provide extra funding and personnel to provide proper speech therapy services within the North-Eastern Health Board. [5146/95]
Written Answers. - Speech Therapy Services.
Limerick East): The provision of speech therapy services in the North-Eastern Health Board area is a matter for that board in the first instance. Additional funding of £1.5 million was provided in 1993 and a similar additional sum in 1994 for the development of services for people with physical disabilities, including speech therapy. With its share of this additional funding, the North-Eastern Health Board approved a total of four additional speech therapists. Furthermore, the board is holding discussions with the Department of Education about the establishment of special classes for children with speech and language disorders in the Cavan-Monaghan and Louth-Meath catchment areas.
This year, a further £2 million is being provided for the development of physical disability services. The North-Eastern Health Board will be giving consideration to making further improvements in its speech therapy services from its allocation of this additional funding, taking account of other service needs.