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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Jul 1972

Vol. 262 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Speech Therapy.

12.

asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of primary school children with (a) speech disorders and (b) stammer; and the number of speech therapists available for treating such children.

It is estimated that 1½ per cent or about 7,400 of national school children have speech defects which require treatment by a speech therapist. Separate figures are not available for children with stammer or other speech disorders.

There are at present 15 speech therapists providing services, mainly for children. It is expected that a further 11 speech therapists will become available from the Dublin College of Speech Therapy later this year to be followed by up to 17 from the college next year.

Is the Minister aware there is a backlog of applicants for speech therapy? Can he state whether the people to whom he referred as coming from the College of Speech Therapy are likely to come into the employment of the health boards?

Of the 11 students who are expected to qualify, two are being sponsored by voluntary agencies. The remaining nine, who have done their final examinations, have been interviewed for posts in the health services and will be offered appointments depending on their qualifying in speech therapy.

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