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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 5

Written Answers. - Speech Therapy Service.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

38 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of speech therapists in the Eastern Health Board area; and the steps, if any, he is taking to address the effect this is having on services. [22927/99]

Paul McGrath

Question:

52 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the inadequate speech therapy service available in the Midland Health Board area; the plans, if any, he has to extend this service in order that children with disabilities have therapy appropriate to their needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22838/99]

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 38 and 52 together.

The provision of speech and language therapy services to people with physical and sensory disabilities is a matter for the relevant health board. Funding of £3 million in 1998 and £3 million in 1999, increasing to £6 million full year cost in 2000, has been allocated to health boards for the development of physical and sensory disability services, including speech and language therapy services. Priorities for the allocation of this funding are decided by the health boards in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services, on which the boards, voluntary sector service providers and people with disabilities are represented. Speech and language therapy is one of the priority areas for development and the boards created ten additional therapist posts in 1998.

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