Vol. 524 No. 2
285 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number on the waiting list for assessment by the children's occupational therapist service in each health board area; the waiting time involved for assessment; and the steps he is taking to provide a satisfactory service. [22143/00]
The provision of health related support services, including occupational therapy, to persons with a physical or sensory disability is the responsibility of the relevant health board. The information requested in the Deputy's question is not routinely gathered by my Department. I have requested the health boards to provide this information and will communicate with the Deputy on receipt of same.
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 occupational 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 work force planning study for the three therapy grades, that is, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy. The terms of reference for the work force planning study for the three therapy professions have been agreed and the study commissioned. This study will report by the end of this year. In the context of this report, a large expansion in the area of training for these therapists, in both the numbers of graduates produced and the number of training colleges established will be examined in partnership with the education authorities.
I am also very pleased to announce that, in co-operation with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods, I have secured a total of 52 extra places for the training of physiotherapists, five additional places for the training of occupational therapists and three in the area of speech and language therapy, all available from October 2000.
