The provision of services is a matter for the management of the South-Eastern Health Board. I have written to the chief executive officer informing him of the concerns expressed by the parents support group.
I am aware of the situation regarding staff shortages in speech and language therapy. I have taken a number of steps to deal with the difficulty, including the commissioning of a workforce planning study by Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates, which will be published shortly, and increasing the number of student places in the therapy schools. As an interim measure, following discussions with the Department of Education and Science and the Higher Education Authority, the number of student places for speech and language therapy was increased by eight, from October 2000. Unfortunately, the capacity of the colleges does not allow for any further expansion in the number of places. However, I am confident that a substantial number of additional training places will be provided as a result of the report by Dr. Bacon.