Written Answers. - Speech Therapy Service.
Denis Naughten
Question:
13
Mr. Naughten
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if his attention has been drawn to the chronic shortage of speech therapy available to school children; the plans, if any, he has to resolve this shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[16192/00]
Richard Bruton
Question:
110
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
his assessment of the availability of speech therapists to school-going pupils compared to the estimated level of need.
[16176/00]
Richard Bruton
Question:
111
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if he will make a statement on the availability of speech therapy services to school-going children.
[16144/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 110 and 111 together.
The report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, published in December 1996, sets out the requirements for the development of these services, including speech and language therapy services. As also recommended in the report, regional co-ordinating committees for services for people with physical and sensory disabilities have been put in place in each of the health boards. One of the primary functions of the co-ordinating committees is to advise the chief executive officer of each board on priorities for the allocation of funds available for the development of the services.
Since the report was published, additional ongoing revenue funding totalling £17 million has been provided to the health boards for priority service developments for people with physical and sensory disabilities. Between 1997 and 1999, 24 new speech and language therapy posts have been created in the health boards to provide a service to people with physical and sensory disabilities. The priorities for the development of services, including speech and language therapy services, in 2001 are currently being finalised by the health boards with their local co-ordinating committees. Speech and language therapy services continue to be identified by all health boards as a priority service for development.
I should point out that the recruitment of allied health professional staff generally is presenting problems throughout the health board regions and it is clear that the demand for the three therapy grades, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy needs to be reviewed. Following a Labour Court recommendation in 1997, an expert group was established to examine and report on various issues relating to the allied health professional grades, including speech and language therapists. One of the issues examined by this group is the problems which arise in relation to the recruitment and the retention of various grades. The expert group submitted its final report in April 2000 and I am implementing in full the recommendations of this report at a cost of £10 million. Among its recommendations was the urgent commissioning of a workforce planning study for the three therapy grades, that is, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy. I have recently agreed the terms of reference for the workforce planning study and this is a priority issue for my Department. Greater expansion in the area of training for these professionals is essential and I will be addressing this issue in the context of the report of the workforce planning study.
I have asked my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods, to investigate the possibility of increasing the number of graduates taken into the courses for speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. As a result of this request, an additional 18 places have been secured, including three additional speech and language therapy places, from October 2000. Talks are also ongoing to ascertain if additional places can be made available to students in Northern Ireland.
On 31 December 1998, there were 238.4 whole time equivalent speech and language therapy posts in the health boards providing services to both children and adults. My Department is currently undertaking a survey of the number of vacant therapy posts in each health board and I hope to have this information available shortly.
