Michael Creed
Question:175 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will forward the information requested in Parliamentary Question No. 82 of 8 February 2001. [14189/01]
Written Answers - Psychological and Speech Therapy Services.
I understood the information requested by the Deputy had been forwarded to him. As it appears this was not the case, I wish to apologise to him and the information requested by him is as follows.
St. Mary's School, Rochestown operates under the patronage of the Brothers of Charity Services Lota, Glanmire, Cork. At present the following services are provided to the school:
|
Whole Time Equivalent(WTE) |
Days/Weeks |
|
|
Speech and Language |
0.48 |
2.25 |
|
Psychology |
0.33 |
1.5 |
|
Social Work |
0.33 |
1.5 |
|
Psychiatry |
1 session per month |
I have been informed by the Southern Health Board that as a result of the additional funding allocated by my Department to them in 2001 for the development of services to persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism, it is proposed to increase the level of multidisciplinary support available to St. Mary's as follows:
|
Proposed 2001 |
|
|
Speech and Language Therapy |
Additional 0.52 wte |
|
Psychology |
Additional 0.67 wte |
|
Social Work |
Additional 0.67 wte |
In relation to the provision of speech and language therapy services, the board and the voluntary agencies have taken a flexible and innovative approach to the development of the service with a view to ensuring effective recruitment and retention of staff. The speech and language therapy services at St. Mary's school currently provide a service 2.25 days per week. The proposed developments in the service in 2001 will increase service provision to five days.
The provision of educational psychological ser vices for schools is the responsibility in the first instance of the Department of Education and Science. While these services are being developed by the National Educational Psychological Service – NEPS – the health funded service will continue to be provided by the Brothers of Charity Services in this instance. The enhanced service provision in 2001 will increase the availability of this service to five days per week.
With regard to the National Rehabilitation Board responsibility for rehabilitative training formerly provided by that agency was transferred to the health boards in 2000. The Southern Health Board has been allocated funding in the 2001 letter of determination to employ guidance counsellors. These staff will further develop and enhance services currently provided and the recruitment process is under way.