Vol. 555 No. 2
257 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of additional occupational therapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy training places announced by him and by the Minister for Education and Science in May 2002 to commence in autumn 2002 which have been provided and have commenced training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17929/02]
Significant progress has been achieved in boosting the number of therapy training places in line with the recommendations of the report, Current and Future Supply and Demand Conditions in the Labour Market for Certain Professional Therapists, prepared by Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates and published in June 2001. A detailed assessment of the bids to supply these additional training places was carried out by an interagency group comprising the Higher Education Authority, the Department of Education and Science, the health boards and my Department with regard to such issues as the proposed curricula, the availability of high-quality clinical placements, the speed at which these places could be provided and the recommendation contained in the Bacon report that consideration should be given to the development and validation of courses at different institutions.
Following my joint announcement with the Minister for Education and Science of 175 extra professional therapy training places in May of this year, the Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy in the University of Limerick commenced in the current academic year with an intake of 28 students. It is envisaged that the masters programmes in speech and language therapy and occupational therapy at the University of Limerick will commence in June 2003 with an intake of 25 into both courses. These courses are accelerated conversion courses, in respect of which the first graduates will be produced in two years.
The National University of Ireland, Cork, has made provision for a Central Applications Office entry in October 2003 for both the Bachelor of Science course in occupational therapy – 25 places – and the Bachelor of Science course in speech and language therapy – 25 places. The option of a programme which would allow students with suitable backgrounds to enter into the second year of a degree programme in October 2003 is currently being considered.
The National University of Ireland, Galway, plans to commence its intake of students into both programmes – the Bachelor of Science course in occupational therapy – 25 places – and the Bachelor of Science course in speech and language therapy – 25 places – in September 2003. NUIG are also investigating the possibility of accepting suitable students into the second year of the programmes in September 2003.
In addition, the universities which are already offering degree courses in these specialties have increased the number of places being offered in the past number of years. The occupational therapy course in TCD increased its intake from 30 to 35 students in the 2000-01 academic year and further increased its intake in the 2001-02 academic year to 41 students. A provisional number of 40 students were accepted in 2002-03. The speech and language therapy course in TCD enrolled 26 students in 2000-01 and increased this number to 32 in 2001-02. A provisional number of 29 students were accepted in 2002-03. The intake for the physiotherapy degree course at TCD also increased from 30 to 36 in 2000-01 and to 40 in 2001-02 and 2002-03 – provisional.
The physiotherapy school in UCD has significantly increased its intake in the past number of years. It increased from 32 to 56 in 2000-01 and was further increased to 60 students in 2001-02. A provisional number of 60 students were also accepted in 2002-03. The Royal College of Surgeons has two physiotherapy courses. The standard four year course saw the number of EU students rise from four to 15 in 2000-01, 12 in 2001-02 and 14 in 2002-03 – provisional. The second course which allows direct entry into year two increased by six in 2000-01 from 11 to 17. A provisional number of 14 EU students were accepted in 2002-03.
