Vol. 467 No. 1
112 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the pay awards, agreements and pay grades for speech and language therapists under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12982/96]
113 Mr. D. McDowell asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding negotiations under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work with representatives of speech and language therapists. [12992/96]
117 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding pay negotiations for speech and language therapists under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work; the progress, if any, made in relation to these negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13142/96]
118 Mr. T. Kitt asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the pay guidelines for speech and language therapists; and the proposals, if any, he has to bring their pay in line with other graduate health care professionals. [13152/96]
156 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the areas of treatment covered by speech and language therapists; the expansion, if any, there has been in their area of treatment in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12802/96]
158 Ms M. Fox asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the pay of speech and language therapists is comparable with other graduate health care professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12846/96]
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.
