I propose to take Questions Nos. 559, 560 and 561 together.
The staff required by a children's disability network team (CDNT) require a wide range of expertise in a number of clinical and other areas including, but not limited to physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, social work and community nursing.
Third level graduates from the relevant therapy courses (i.e. physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy) for 2020, the most recent year available, are shown in the table below.
Institution
|
Degree Level
|
Field
|
2020
|
University of Limerick
|
Taught Masters
|
Occupational Therapy
|
29
|
NUI Galway
|
Honours Degree
|
Occupational Therapy
|
27
|
Trinity College Dublin
|
Honours Degree
|
Occupational Therapy
|
45
|
University College Cork
|
Honours Degree
|
Occupational Therapy
|
25
|
University College Dublin
|
Taught Masters
|
Physiotherapy
|
22
|
University of Limerick
|
Taught Masters
|
Physiotherapy
|
17
|
Royal College of Surgeons
|
Honours Degree
|
Physiotherapy
|
32
|
Trinity College Dublin
|
Honours Degree
|
Physiotherapy
|
77
|
University College Dublin
|
Honours Degree
|
Physiotherapy
|
48
|
University of Limerick
|
Honours Degree
|
Physiotherapy
|
27
|
University of Limerick
|
Taught Masters
|
Speech and Language Therapy
|
22
|
NUI Galway
|
Honours Degree
|
Speech and Language Therapy
|
32
|
Trinity College Dublin
|
Honours Degree
|
Speech and Language Therapy
|
32
|
University College Cork
|
Honours Degree
|
Speech and Language Therapy
|
33
|
The Programme for Government commits the Department of Health to working with the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies to improve the availability of health professionals and reform their training to support integrated care across the entire health service, including in relation to disability services. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is also represented on the interdepartmental Working Group which is currently tasked with developing an Action Plan for Disability Services for the 2022-2025 period.
My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services. My officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health on determining the longer term skills needs of the healthcare services, and the role which the further and higher education sector can play in meeting those skills needs.