Vol. 559 No. 1
294 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of speech and language therapists employed by his Department; the places to which such professionals are attached; if he has satisfied himself that this number satisfies the demands for such services within his Department; if not, the plans he has to rectify the matter; the period of time this will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25931/02]
I understand that the Deputy is referring to the number of speech and language therapists employed in each health board region. The following table sets out the information requested.
Responsibility for the provision of speech and language therapy services is a matter for each health board through the service planning process. The Deputy may, however, be aware that intensive efforts have been undertaken to improve staffing levels in speech and language therapy, both at local and national level. These measures are reflected in the increase of 54 speech and language therapists (+15.6%) employed in the public health service over the past two years. Relevant developments include the continued implementation of the recommendations of the expert group report on various health professions, which include new pay scales and career structures, the undertaking of a concerted overseas recruitment drive on behalf of all health boards, the introduction of a fast track working visa scheme for health and social care professionals, the streamlining of procedures for the validation of overseas qualifications and the planned significant expansion in the number of training places in speech and language therapy through the implementation of the recommendations of the Bacon report. Implementation of the Action Plan for People Management, published last month, is expected to make an important contribution to the retention of key healthcare personnel including speech and language therapists.
|
Health Board Region |
Total WTE Excluding Career Breaks |
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority |
177.76 |
|
Midland Health Board |
29.42 |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
17.5 |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
39 |
|
North-Western Health Board |
23 |
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
30.76 |
|
Southern Health Board |
47.99 |
|
Western Health Board |
33.67 |
|
Total |
399.1 |
