Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Speech Therapy Services.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

661 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of speech therapists employed by the Eastern Regional Health Authority; the number of persons who received training in 2001; the numbers waiting for appointments to be seen at the end of each quarter since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2460/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The number of speech and language therapists, wholetime equivalents, employed in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area as at 31 December 2001 are as detailed in the following tabular statement.

ERHA Region – Staffing levels at 31/12/2001	Grade	TotalWTE
Direct ERHA	Speech and Language Therapist	51
Employees	Speech and Language Therapist Manager	10
	Speech and Language Therapist, Senior	24
	Sub-total	85

ERHA Region – Staffing levels at 31/12/2001	Grade	TotalWTE
Intellectual	Speech and Language Therapist	9
DisabilityService	Speech and Language Therapist, Principal I	1
Employees	Speech and Language Therapist, Principal II	1
	Speech and Language Therapist, Senior	10
	Sub-total	21
Voluntary	Speech and Language Therapist	23
HospitalEmployees	Speech and Language Therapist Manager	1
	Speech and Language Therapist, Principal I	3
	Speech and Language Therapist, Principal II	3
	Speech and Language Therapist, Senior	29
	Sub-total	59
	Total	165

I presume the Deputy is referring to the numbers of persons in full-time education. In the academic year 2000/01 the number of students taking the clinical speech and language therapy degree course in TCD on a full-time basis was 94.

The Deputy may wish to note that in response to my concern regarding the current severe 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 speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. The study was published in July 2001 and concludes that a major expansion is essential in the numbers of speech and language therapists requiring a significant increase in training places. 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, HEA. 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. The proposals received are currently being assessed by the inter-agency working group.

Responsibility for the provision of appointments rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to him directly.