Vol. 541 No. 4
166 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he will take to ensure an adequate supply of speech therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists in the shortest possible timeframe. [22949/01]
The Department of Health and Children commissioned a report from Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates on current and future supply and demand conditions in the labour market for physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. The report was launched in July 2001 and it concluded that a major expansion in the numbers of therapy professionals was essential over the next 15 years. In relation to training places, the report recommends an annual increase of 75 training places for both speech and language therapy and occupational therapy and an additional 25 training places in physiotherapy. These increases are in addition to the extra number of places provided by the colleges in the last academic year in response to the request of the Higher Education Authority to expand provision in the light of perceived shortages.
An inter-agency working group has been established comprising representatives of my Department, the Department of Health and Children and the Higher Education Authority. The Higher Education Authority has invited institutions to submit proposals for the expansion of existing courses and/or the introduction of new courses, including graduate entry programmes. The closing date for receipt of such proposals is 15 October 2001.
I will continue to liaise with my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, in order to ensure an adequate supply of qualified therapists.
