Section 67 of the Health Act 1970 requires the Health Service Executive (HSE) to make dental, ophthalmic and aural treatment and dental, optical and aural appliances available for persons with full eligibility without charge. In addition, section 7 of Health Act 2004 requires that the HSE have regard to the resources available to it and the need to secure the most beneficial, effective and efficient use of those resources.
The HSE has in recent months, completed a detailed analysis of the numbers and distribution of public health nurses, registered general nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. While the work was not confined specifically to the Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development (RAPID) Programme, it was very much in line with the aims of the RAPID Programme, which targets disadvantaged areas. Based on the analysis, it is proposed that the following additional posts will be recruited in 2013:
- 70 Public Health Nurses;
- 37 Registered General Nurses;
- 51 Occupational Therapists;
- 46 Physiotherapists;
- 47 Speech & Language Therapists.