Vol. 548 No. 1
143 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps being taken to ensure additional educational facilities in third level colleges for courses in clinical and educational psy chology, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. [4029/02]
144 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will sanction additional educational facilities to NUI Galway in clinical and educational psychology, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy; if Irish language modules will be mandatory in these courses in order that the needs of Irish speaking children are properly addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4030/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together.
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. As regards 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 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, to ensure the rapid provision of the additional places as an urgent priority. The Higher Education Authority has sought proposals from third level institutions for the expansion of existing courses and-or the introduction of new courses, including graduate entry programmes, in response to the training needs identified in the report. The proposals received are currently being considered.
As regards clinical psychology, I understand that a joint review group on psychology services has identified a shortage of professionally qualified clinical psychologists. This review group comprised representatives of the Health Services Employers Agency, health service employers, the Department of Health and Children and IMPACT. I further understand that the Department of Health and Children has made arrangements with the Psychology Society of Ireland to provide 30 additional postgraduate training places in 2001-02. The Higher Education Authority has recently received a request for capital funding from NUI Galway for the development of a postgraduate course in clinical psychology. The authority is currently considering this request in consultation with the Department of Health and Children.
