Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 1

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Louis J. Belton

Question:

246 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Health and Children if a physiotherapist service, an occupational therapist service and extra time for speech therapy will be provided at St. Christopher's special school, Battery Road, County Longford. [18694/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I have been informed by the Midland Health Board that the Department of Education and Science runs a school for 24 persons with a moderate intellectual disability which is located on the grounds of St. Christopher's day centre, Battery Road, Longford. In addition, there is a class for five persons with severe-profound intellectual disability.

The Midland Health Board provides paramedical support services, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy for those attending the special class albeit on a limited basis.

The need for additional therapeutic service inputs to the school and special class has been brought to the board's attention by the school management at St. Christopher's and additional funding has been made available in the board's service plan for such services. Difficulties associated with staff recruitment has hindered the proposed service development to commence. Implementation of this aspect of the board's service plan remains a priority.

However, I am aware that, while there has been 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.

Some work still remains to be done in finalising Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates report in relation to workforce planning for therapists. I expect that this report will be completed shortly and I am making arrangements to publish it in a few weeks time. Developments arising from the implementation of the recommendations contained in this report, together with some initial measures which my Department has already taken to increase the number of training places for certain allied health professionals, will provide for an increasing number of trained personnel for the services.

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.