Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 113, 117, 118, 156 and 158 together.
Speech and language therapy services are concerned with assessing, diagnosing, treating and contributing to the prevention of disorders of communication in children and adults. Recent years have seen the development of speech and language therapy as an area of hightechnology health care, as is the case with most paramedical health care specialties.
A pay claim submitted by IMPACT on behalf of speech and language therapists is being processed under clause 2 (iii) A — annex 1 of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
As discussions to date have not been conclusive, the management side has arranged to meet the speech and language therapists under the auspices of the Local Government Staff Negotiations Board on Wednesday, 26 June next with a view to negotiating a mutually acceptable outcome. In these circumstances, any further comment on my part would not be appropriate or helpful.