I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together.
Responsibility for the employment of speech and language therapists in the public health sector in County Mayo rests with the Western Health Board. My Department has therefore asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to him directly.
The Deputy may wish to note that a total of 34 speech and language therapists, in whole time equivalent terms, were employed in the health service in the Western Health Board area at the end of 2001. The Department does not hold information on speech and language therapists who may be employed in private practice.