Vol. 533 No. 3
196 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals he has to ensure that there is an adequate number of audiologists and audiological scientists for community based work here, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8678/01]
The provision of audiological services is a matter in the first instance for the Eastern Regional Health Authority – ERHA – and the health boards.
The ERHA has been actively seeking to recruit suitably qualified staff to fill vacancies which existed at the date of transfer of responsibility for audiological services from the National Rehabilitation Board – NRB – to the authority with little success. The authority is also encouraging all health boards to sponsor suitable students for training courses in both audiology and in audiological science. Currently four students attending the audiology training course in Belfast are being sponsored by health boards. These students should qualify in late 2002.
