Vol. 524 No. 2
315 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of meetings he has had with the Department of Education and Science to draw up a proper plan with regard to the development of speech therapy classes in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22286/00]
I have had no meetings to date with the Department of Education and Science to draw up a plan for the development of speech and language therapy in primary schools. The planning and co-ordination of support services, including speech and language therapy services, in schools or centres for education is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science and the provision of speech and language therapy services is the responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards. Accordingly, the provision of speech and language therapy services in primary schools is a matter for the Department of Education and Science in consultation with the authority and health boards.
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. The terms of reference for the workforce 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 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.
316 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of speech therapists in the South West Area Health Board; if he has satisfied himself that this number meets the demands of the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22287/00]
The provision of health related support services, including speech and language therapy, to persons with physical or sensory disabilities is the responsibility of the relevant health board. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the regional chief executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority with a request that he examine the matter and reply directly to the Deputy, as a matter of urgency.
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. The terms of reference for the workforce 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 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.
The Higher Education Authority is also establishing a group comprised of representatives from each of the three physiotherapy schools to investigate the establishment of a fast-track physiotherapy programme to begin in each school from October 2001. The first graduates from these programmes should be available in 2003. The possibility of establishing a similar course for occupational therapy and speech and language therapy will also be investigated.
