Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2004
69 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will liaise with the Department for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to end the crisis for patient and health care providers surrounding the disabled persons housing grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15437/04]
View answerMy Department will continue to liaise with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding the disabled persons housing grant. Deputy Noel Ahern, Minister of State with responsibility for housing and urban renewal, recently announced the allocation of €65 million to local authorities for the payment of disabled persons and essential repairs grants.
The grants are administered by local authorities in accordance with a framework laid down in statutory regulations, which, as far as practicable, is designed to give an appropriate degree of flexibility to local authorities in addressing the housing needs of disabled and elderly persons. Health boards provide the occupational therapists to assess the needs of persons with disabilities applying for these grants.
Concerns have been raised regarding the shortage of certain professionals, such as occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists. Efforts have been made to address this situation. Significant progress has been achieved in boosting the number of therapy training places. Last year, the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Health and Children announced 150 additional therapy training places in occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.
There has also been 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 and the streamlining of procedures for the validation of overseas qualifications. The success of these measures is reflected in the increases in speech and language therapists and occupational therapists employed in the public health service over the three year period to end of 2002, with a 73% increase in occupational therapists and a 33% increases in speech and language therapists.
