Vol. 535 No. 1
362 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent of the shortage of occupational therapists in the public health service; the way in which he proposes to rectify this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12258/01]
363 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the proposed posts of speech therapy assistant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12259/01]
364 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the consultancy posts for speech and language therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12260/01]
365 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions he has had with his colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, with regard to increasing the number of students training to be speech and language therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12261/01]
I propose to take Question Nos. 362 to 365, inclusive, together.
I am aware that there are staff shortages in the occupational therapy and speech and language therapy grades within the public health service. To address these shortages my Department 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 occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. The study is expected to be published shortly. Once the study has been published, my Department will discuss, with the Department of Education and Science and the Higher Education Authority, the number of additional student places required.
The introduction of therapy assistants is being progressed by my Department through talks with IMPACT on the implementation of the expert group report on various health professions.
