Vol. 553 No. 2
364 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to increase the number of third level places for the various therapies such as physio, speech and language and occupational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13592/02]
The provision of an additional 175 professional therapy training places to tackle the shortage of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists was announced on 29 May 2002. These places are being provided in response to the recommendations set out in the 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, which was launched in July 2001. The recent announcement follows on the work of an inter-agency group, comprising representatives of my Department, the Department of Health and Children and the Higher Education Authority, which was established to ensure the provision of the additional places and which considered 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 Bacon report.
The distribution of the additional places is as follows:
University College Cork, National University of Ireland – Cork25 places – Bachelor of Science in speech and language therapy
25 places – Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy
National University of Ireland, Galway25 places – Bachelor of Science in speech and language therapy
25 places – Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy
University of Limerick25 places – Master of Science in speech and language therapy
25 places – Master of Science in occupational therapy
25 places – Bachelor of Science in physiotherapy
It is expected that the first intake to these courses will commence in the 2002-03 academic year.
