Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 3

Written Answers. - Effects of Polio.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

334 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on a submission by the post polio support group concerning the late effects of polio; the services his Department will provide for polio survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28954/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I assume the submission by the post polio support group the Deputy refers to was in preparation for the European Union Health Council meeting on 15 November last. My Department is well aware of the services that people require to combat the late effects of polio.

Since coming into office this Government has allocated just over £107 million, 135.86 million, for the maintenance and development of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. Of this, £23.325 million, 29.616 million, has been provided specifically for aids and appliances. Currently, a full year cost of £6 million, 7.618 million, for personal assistant services is being provided which will fund an additional 312 personal assistants over the next two years to provide a service for approximately 230 clients. This level of funding is indicative of this Government's on-going commitment to the development of the broad range of home support services which are required to enable people with disabilities to live as independently as possible and also to provide relief to a significant number of carers.

My Department is committed to examining the feasibility of introducing a cost of disability payment. The programme for prosperity and fairness states that the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and the Department of Finance will set up and participate in a working group which will consult with the social partners to examine the feasibility of introducing a cost of disability payment. The working group has commenced its work. It is being chaired by the Department of Health and Children and includes representatives of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, Department of Finance, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

In response to my concern regarding current severe labour shortages affecting the therapy professions nation wide 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 speech and language therapists. The study, a comprehensive quantitative assessment of workforce requirement for qualified personnel in these areas to 2015, was published on 25 July last. It concludes that a major expansion is essential in the numbers of therapy professionals over the next fifteen years including a fourfold increase in speech and language therapists. This will require a significant increase in training places with a recommended annual increase of 75 course places for speech and language therapy. I am working closely with my colleague the Minister for Education and Science to ensure the rapid provision of the additional places as an urgent priority.

To this end an inter-agency working group has been established comprising representatives of my Department, the Department of Education and Science and the Higher Education Authority. The Higher Education Authority has initiated a formal bidding process between third-level educational institutions to respond to the training needs identified in the study.