Vol. 547 No. 1
459 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide the resources for speech therapists for the Dublin 12 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter in view of the concerns of persons (details supplied). [2778/02]
Additional funding has been made available by my Department in recent years to enhance the level of health related support services available to children with special needs, including those who require speech and language therapy. The Deputy will be aware that many health boards and specialist service providers have been experiencing difficulties in recruiting allied health professionals and specifically speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists. This is due primarily to the general shortage of available staff in these grades nationally. Health boards and agencies have been and are continuing to undertake intensive recruitment drives both at home and abroad. My Department has also asked the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority to explore other approaches which might result in the maintenance of an existing level of service provision or an enhancement in line with agreed service developments using the resources allocated to the services.
Responsibility for the provision of health related support services to children with special needs in the Dublin region rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has therefore asked the chief executive officer of the authority to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to him directly.
