Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 2

Written Answers. - Therapy Services.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

227 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to establish additional facilities for training professionals in third level institutions as speech and language therapists and occupational therapists; the number of such therapists who are qualified and employed in the services; the number which will be required to give the necessary services young children and young people with learning disabilities who are awaiting speech and language therapy and those awaiting occupational therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4255/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

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, which took account of requirements arising in relation to the learning disability sector, was published in July 2001 and concluded that a major expansion is essential in the numbers of each of the therapy grades, requiring a significant increase in training places. The report recommends an annual increase of 75 course places for both speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.

An interagency 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 interagency working group.

The numbers of occupational therapists and speech and language therapists – wholetime equivalents – employed in the health services for the years 1997 to 2000 are detailed as follows.

Occupational Therapists

	1997	1998	1999	2000
	WTE's	WTE's	WTE's	WTE's
Occupational Therapist	170	184	200	234
Occupational Therapist Manager				21
Occupational Therapist, Head I	8	5	9	3
Occupational Therapist, Head II	14	21	19	3
Occupational Therapist, Senior	96	122	144	182
Total	288	332	371	443

Speech and Language Therapists

	1997	1998	1999	2000
	WTE's	WTE's	WTE's	WTE's
Speech and Language Therapist	187	219	218	202
Speech and Language Therapist Manager				28
Speech and Language Therapist, Principal I	5	7	9	4
Speech and Language Therapist, Principal II	19	19	24	4
Speech and Language Therapist, Senior	70	71	95	148
Total	282	316	345	386

Note 1: All figures are expressed as rounded wholetime equivalents.

Note 2: Figures supplied are as recorded in the annual Health Service Personnel which is recorded at 31 December each year.