Vol. 534 No. 1
83 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself that there are adequate speech therapy services available to all school going children who require such support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6855/01]
I would like to advise the Deputy that the arrangements for the provision of speech and language therapy services are a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in the first instance.
However, I am aware that, while there has been a significant level of investment in recent years in health related support services, including speech and language therapy services, for both pre-school and children of school going age with intellectual disability, autism, physical and sensory disabilities, the health boards and non-statutory agencies are experiencing difficulties in both recruiting and retaining the allied health professionals required to deliver these services. In acknowledgement of these difficulties, my Department has asked the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards to take a flexible approach in using the resources which have been allocated to the services, including the possibility of the purchase of additional sessions, with a view to facilitating as many children as possible to access the necessary support services.
I have just received the report that I commissioned from Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates in relation to workforce planning for speech and language therapy. I am currently considering its implications and will shortly be in a position to announce developments in this area.
As the Deputy is also probably aware, section 8 of the Finance Act, 2001, amends section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, to extend tax relief for medical expenses to cover the cost of psychological assessments and speech and language therapy services for children.
