Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 2

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Tony Gregory

Question:

169 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children the speech therapy outreach services funded by his Department for autism units in national schools; the other services provided by his Department for these units; the difficulties that have arisen in the provision of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29510/03]

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

Responsibility for the provision of services to persons with autism is a matter for the authority and the individual health boards. Health boards have, over the years, provided a level of support, either directly or through specialist voluntary agencies, for children with disabilities. These services include diagnosis, assessment, multidisciplinary support, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology services, for pre-school children and for children of school going age on an outreach basis. Additional funding of approximately €15 million has been made available in recent years to enhance the level of health related support service available to children with autism and those with an intellectual disability.

However, many health boards and specialist service providers have been experiencing difficulties in recruiting allied health professionals and specifically speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists. This is due primarily to the general shortage of available staff in these grades nationally. Health boards and agencies have undertaken intensive recruitment drives at home and abroad. My Department has also asked the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority to explore other approaches that might result in the maintenance of an existing level of service provision or an enhancement in line with agreed service developments using the resources allocated to the services.

In response to my concern regarding the high level of vacancies, my Department commissioned a report from Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates on current and future supply and demand conditions in the labour market for speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. The report recommends a significant annual increase in course places for these professions and all the new training places have now come on stream.