Vol. 544 No. 3
292 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to appoint a full-time speech and language therapist to the health clinic in Swords, County Dublin, which covers an area from Whitehall to Balbriggan and only has speech and language therapy one and a half days per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28516/01]
The provision of health services, including speech and language therapy services, to meet the needs of local communities within its functional area is a matter for each health board, including the Eastern Regional Health Authority. In the case of Swords, this responsibility rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
The Eastern Regional Health Authority has advised me that Swords health centre currently has a basic grade therapist who works four days in Swords and one day in Balbriggan health centre. A senior speech and language therapist works in Swords two days a week. There is also a vacancy for another basic grade therapist, which has existed since June 2001.
The authority has also advised me that it should be in a position to engage a recruitment agency within the next four to six weeks and to work with them towards filling the vacancy.
