Michael Ring
Question:184 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for orthodontic assessment and treatment. [31032/04]
View answerTuesday, 30 November 2004
Questions (141, 142, 143, 144)
Written answers
Responsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment for eligible persons in County Mayo rests with the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.
John Perry
Question:185 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Stammering Association is a registered charity for the 50,000 persons here who stammer; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the effect of stammering on children can lead to bullying, low self image, affect educational achievements and can be treated successfully if the appropriate specialist therapy is provided with family involvement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31039/04]
View answerJohn Perry
Question:186 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Stammering Association has plans to set up a centre of excellence in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim; if training will be provided for both therapists and students to specialise in the field of stammering and parents given advice and involvement in group therapy themselves, if required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31040/04]
View answer
I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together.
The Deputy may wish to note the 200 increase in whole-time equivalent terms, 70%, in the number of speech and language therapists employed in the health services between 1997 and 2003.
The continued implementation of the pay recommendations of the public service benchmarking body as well as the report of the expert group on various health professions which included new pay scales and career structures, the availability of the fast track working visa scheme and the streamlining of procedures for the validation of overseas qualifications are designed to help sustain the improvements in staffing levels achieved for speech and language therapy services, both at local and national level.
In addition, as the Deputy may be aware, three new speech and language therapy courses commenced in the 2003-04 academic year in UCC, NUIG and UL. In total, these courses will provide an additional 75 training places in speech and language therapy. This expansion in training numbers was identified in the Bacon report as necessary to meet the long-term demand-supply balance for speech and language therapists in Ireland.
I have been informed that the speech and language therapy services in the North Western Health Board undertook one week residential courses for persons who had to contend with a stammer. There was very clear tangible evidence of success demonstrated by the participants and this success encouraged the Irish Stammering Association to make an application to the chief executive officers of the health boards to locate a national centre of excellence in Carrick-on-Shannon. The submission is under active consideration by the directors of disability and I understand that it is hoped to forward a detailed proposal to the Health Service Executive-Department of Health and Children in early 2005.
John Perry
Question:187 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if respite care in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim will be made available immediately to a person (details supplied) through the NWHB; if she will make a decision in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31041/04]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the provision of health services in County Leitrim is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the North Western Health Board. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive of the board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply direct to him as a mater of urgency.