Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 8

Written Answers. - Occupational Therapists.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

261 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost to the taxpayer of training an occupational therapist; the number of these trained in the past six years; the percentage of these in each of the past six years which left Ireland after graduation. [19414/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin):

There is only one degree course in occupational therapy available in the State, namely the degree of Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, offered by Trinity College Dublin. The unit cost per student was £5,050 per annum in 1995-96, which gives a total cost of £20,200 on the basis of the course being of four years duration. The numbers graduating from this course since 1991 together with the percentage of these graduates which left Ireland after graduation are as follows:

Year	Graduates	% left Ireland*
1991	32	n/a
1992	26	38%
1993	26	50%
1994	28	7%
1995	20	20%
1996	31	52%

*This information is based on the survey information compiled in the context of the annual report of the Higher Education Authority on the First Destination of Award Recipients in Higher Education. The authority has advised that the figure for 1991 is not readily available and the figure for 1992 is based on 24 graduates as two graduates did not respond to the survey.