Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Occupational Therapy Services.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

573 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will receive a visit from the occupational therapist from a health centre (details supplied) to assess her needs for an electric wheelchair; the numbers waiting in each of the three priority types on the waiting list for visits from this centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24438/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The assessment for and the provision of aids and appliances to persons with physical and sensory disabilities, is a matter for the relevant health board. Accordingly, the Deputy's question has been referred to the chief executive officer 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 occupational therapists. Among the issues examined by this group were 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 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.

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.