Vol. 571 No. 2
289 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he is taking in relation to the occupational therapy degree course that was to start in NUI Galway last week; if this course can be given proper accreditation; and when this course will be up and running. [21480/03]
My Department understands that while formal approval to proceed with the occupational therapy programme at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) is awaited, both the Association of Occupational Therapists in Ireland (AOTI) and NUIG have committed themselves to a process which will lead to such approval, subject to accreditation procedures of the AOTI being implemented as soon as possible. In the meantime, the course at NUIG has begun with an intake of 18 students.
My Department, together with the Department of Education and Science and the Higher Education Authority, are monitoring developments closely given the importance of ensuring that these new places are successfully established to help meet long-term human resource requirements for occupational therapists in the health service.
