Michael Moynihan
Question:703. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if there has been cuts to funding for children with severe speech and language therapy needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3721/14]
View answerTuesday, 28 January 2014
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The HSE aims to ensure that the resources available are used to best effect, in order to provide assessment and ongoing therapy to children and adults in line with their prioritised needs.
The HSE’s National Service Plan 2013 provided for additional funding of €20m to strengthen primary care services (€18.525m for the recruitment of 264.5 primary care team posts and €1.475m to support Community Intervention Team development). Of the additional 264.5 posts allocated, 47 whole-time equivalent Speech and Language Therapy posts were approved. The recruitment process is ongoing in relation to these posts, with the majority of the posts filled or offered with start dates to be agreed. The HSE is striving to have the remainder of the posts filled as soon as possible in 2014.
The HSE's Social Care budget for 2014 is being maintained broadly in line with 2013, with targeted investment in the area of Disability Services of €14m for a number of developments, including €4m for the roll out of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18) Programme. This should equate to approximately 80 additional therapy staff, to increase services for children with all disabilities. A proportion of these posts will be speech and language therapy posts.
Along with the significant investment in the area of speech and language therapists employed in recent years, a range of new approaches have been developed and used in many Speech and Language Therapy services across the country. These include providing structures, training and support to parents/carers so that they can work to help improve the individual’s speech and language. In addition, therapy is delivered in group settings where appropriate.