Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Apr 2003

Vol. 565 No. 3

Written Answers. - Speech Therapy Service.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

301 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties in relation to speech therapy in west Cork, where there are three speech therapists, one of whom is on maternity leave while a second is on leave of absence, leaving one speech therapist to cover the entire area; and if he has proposals to deal with the situation which is causing tremendous difficulty for a large number of children in need of speech therapy. [10767/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O'Malley):

The provision of health related services, including speech and language therapy, to people with physical and/or sensory disabilities in County Cork is a matter for the Southern Health Board in the first instance. Accordingly, the Deputy's question has been referred to the chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board with a request that he examine the matter and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.