Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 2

Written Answers. - Occupational Therapists.

Máirín Quill

Question:

48 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists per head of population in the Eastern Health Board region and the Southern Health Board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20460/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

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

Health Board Area	Population *(1996 census)	Whole Time Equivalent 1995	No. of Therapists per head of population
Eastern	1,293,964	62.69	1 per 20,641
Southern	546,209	17.88	1 per 30,549

*Provisional figures per Central Statistics Office

The total number of occupational therapists 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 occupational therapists 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.