Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 2

Written Answers. - Physiotherapists Numbers.

Máirín Quill

Question:

103 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Health the number of physiotherapists per head of population in the Eastern Health Board region and the Southern Health Board region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20641/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The number of physiotherapists per head of population in the Eastern and Southern Health Board regions are as follows:

Health Board Area	Population * (1996 census)	Whole Time Equivalent 1995	Number of Therapists per head of population
Eastern	1,293,964	49.05	1 per 26,381
Southern	549,209	43.57	1 per 12,536

*Provisional figures per Central Statistics Office.

The total number of physiotherapists employed in an area and the ratio of therapists to population are only partial indicators of the relative ease of access to these services.

Chief executive officers of health boards have discretion to vary the number of physiotherapists employed by their boards within the overall staffing complement agreed for each board. The chief executive officer of each board prioritises staffing needs within the agreed complement having regard to service needs and available financial resources.