As I have previously informed the Deputy, the provision of housing modification grants for people with physical disabilities is a matter for the Department of the Environment and Local Government and they are provided through the relevant local authority. The criteria for this scheme are set out in the Department of the Environment and Local Government's Housing (Disabled Persons and Essential Repairs Grant) Regulations, 1993.
The housing modifications-adaptations required vary according to the level of disability involved in each particular case. It is, therefore, necessary for a trained professional, that is, an occupational therapist, to identify the most suitable modifications which will allow the individual to function adequately within the home. Without these modifications, some everyday functions may be difficult or impossible to carry out due to the nature of the particular disability. Health boards are involved with these grants to the extent that an assessment of the individual case must be carried out by an occupational therapist from the health board, in order for the grant to be approved.
The assessment procedure involved in the processing of these grants is entirely a matter for discussion between the local authority and the health board concerned. A copy of the Deputy's question has been referred to the chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board for his attention.
In response to my concern regarding current labour shortages affecting the therapy professions nationwide my Department commissioned a report from Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates on current and future supply and demand conditions in the labour market for certain professional therapists including occupational therapists. The study, a comprehensive quantitative assessment of workforce requirements for qualified personnel in this area to 2015, was published on 25 July last.
The report concludes that a major expansion is essential in the numbers of therapy professionals over the next 15 years, including an increase of over 150% in occupational therapists. This will require a significant increase in training places with a recommended annual increase of 75 course places for occupational therapy. Other key recommendations of the report include:
Provision of sufficient clinical placements within the health service through the establishment of a national network of clinical placement co-ordinators;
Need for fast-track qualification and review of the existing training system;
Concerted recruitment from overseas;
Establishment of the planned system of statutory registration consistent with the requirement for a patient-centred health service;
Career structure, workload, working practices and skills-mix issues encompassed in the context of the report of the expert group on various health professions, published in April 2000.
