I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 to 279, inclusive, together.
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 concluded that a major expansion is essential in the numbers of each of the therapy grades, 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. 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.
I am aware, in the context of work carried out by my Department along with health service employers and IMPACT on the Joint Review Group on Psychology Services in the health service, that shortages of psychology staff including clinical psychologists exist in the health service. The review group identified that a key factor was the inadequate number of post-graduate training places available.
A workforce planning exercise carried out under the aegis of the review recommended the provision of approximately 30 additional post-graduate training places in psychology. Following a process initiated by my Department 30 additional places are now being provided from 2001 through the Psychological Society of Ireland's post-graduate diploma course.
Responsibility for the provision of sufficient health and social care professionals proficient in the Irish language rests with the health boards. My Department has therefore asked the chief executive officer of each health board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and a reply will issue to the Deputy from the Department as soon as possible.
