Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Speech and Language Therapy.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

189 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children if Trinity College, Dublin 2, was unable to find suitable work experience places for many of their second, third and fourth year speech therapy students in 2000; the reason this occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29410/00]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

216 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children if 30 senior speech therapists left practice in the public sector between April and September of 2000; the positions they moved on to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29397/00]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

217 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which the introduction of clinical specialist posts for speech and language therapists and the establishment of a therapy assistant grade would expand and improve the public speech and language therapy service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29398/00]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

226 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will enter into immediate discussions with speech and language therapists in order that the clinical specialist posts for speech and language therapists identified by the expert group on various health professions are allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29409/00]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

238 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children when the formal training scheme for speech and language therapy assistants will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29491/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 189, 216, 217, 226 and 238 together.

The introduction of the new grades of clinical specialist and the therapy assistant are being progressed by my Department through talks with IMPACT on the implementation of the expert group report of various health professions. Unfortunately, speech and language therapists have withdrawn from this process.

If and when speech and language therapists wish to rejoin the process, my Department and the Health Service Employers Agency are available to enter into discussions with them on the issues raised, including the clinical specialist posts.

As referred to in last week's reply to a Parliamentary Question, talks are ongoing with IMPACT on the establishment of a therapy assistant grade and a training scheme for them. I am not in a position to give a date for the commencement of a formal training course. It is my aim to proceed with this as soon as possible, and my proposed expansion of the health professionals policy unit in my Department will facilitate this.

The establishment of the therapy assistant grade has, as referred to in the expert group, the potential to provide the very necessary practical support for therapists in the delivery of an efficient and effective service. Such a development is intended to enhance the quality of care being provided to clients and, as such, it is not intended as a substitute for existing therapists but rather to complement the role of the therapist and ensure that patient care is maximised.

The expert group report recommended that talks commence between employers and staff in relation to the creation of a clinical specialist post for the therapy professions. The creation of this post will allow for career progression for those who do not want to move into management. It would also ensure that clinical expertise is not lost to the profession.

My Department has assigned a number of new clinical specialist posts to the speech and language therapy profession. However IMPACT states that it cannot accept any arrangements on behalf of the profession at the moment. Once the speech and language therapists rejoin the process, my Department will be in a position to allocate these new posts, which are part of a first tranche of such posts. The position will be reviewed by my Department after 12 months and an increase in the number of these posts will be considered at that stage.

I am aware that training colleges are experiencing difficulties in accessing the appropriate number of clinical placement opportunities for students in a number of therapy professions. Officials of my Department have had initial discussions with the Higher Education Authority on the matter and further talks are scheduled for later this month. It is then intended that a meeting with the heads of the schools of training will then be held to review the position. It is essential that all parties adopt an imaginative approach to resolving this issue.

The expert group report recommended the payment of an allowance to those involved in the clinical placement process. A sub-committee of the implementation group was established to refine this recommendation and it has produced an agreed report which is under consideration by the main group. I am confident that the improvements suggested by this report will be of considerable assistance in resolving this matter.

The Deputy may wish to note that my Department has engaged Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates to undertake a workforce planning study to report on the prospective supply and demand for a number of therapy grades, including speech and language therapists. The report is expected by end-year and will address the number of additional training places required by these professions. Dr. Bacon has had talks with the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists in relation to the current issues of concern to them.