Vol. 522 No. 4
131 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of community nutritionists in each health board region; the number that will be recruited; the number per head of population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18881/00]
The number of whole-time equivalent dieticians – dietician, senior dietician, principal I and principal II dietician – employed, by health board area, for health board and voluntary agencies, as recorded in the health service personnel census of 31 December 1998 follows. The census for 1999 is in the process of being compiled.
The identification of staffing requirements and their recruitment and deployment is, within the overall financial and employment levels set by my Department, a matter for the management of each agency. It is not possible to make valid comparisons between regions. Even given similar populations, there are significant differences in case complexity, patient profile, facilities equipment, the range and complexity of services provided, socio-demographic factors and health and social requirements.
Dieticians (w.t.e.'s – excluding career breaks) by Health Board Area
Health Board and Voluntary Agencies at 31/12/98
|
Health Board Area |
1998 |
|
Eastern |
62.06 |
|
Midland |
4.6 |
|
Mid-Western |
4 |
|
North-Eastern |
6.4 |
|
North-Western |
8 |
|
South-Eastern |
5.94 |
|
Southern |
9.45 |
|
Western |
7.9 |
|
Total |
108.34 |
132 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Health and Children if, having regard to his intention to introduce legislation early in 2001 for the statutory registration of allied health professionals such as occupational therapists, he has given any thought to the regulation of the expanding numbers of self styled counsellors and therapists operating in a quasi-medical fashion with minimal qualifications. [18904/00]
The statutory registration scheme currently being proposed by my Department is limited to the 11 main allied health professionals, and does not include counsellors. Due to the nature and complexity of the negotiations involved, we do not currently expect to extend the number of professions involved in the initial introduction of the scheme. However, it is envisaged that the legislation will include a mechanism whereby counsellors and other professions could be registered by means of a ministerial order.
