Vol. 401 No. 5
35 Mr. Foxe asked the Minister for Health the reason the Western Health Board has withdrawn the services of a speech therapist for County Roscommon as the Brothers of Charity, who were to provide this service following the withdrawal, do not have a speech therapist.
The deployment of speech therapists employed by the Western Health Board is a matter for the board to decide having regard to the competing needs to be served. I understand that only a small amount of speech therapy time for people with mental handicap was possible under the earlier arrangements. Following review of speech therapy services undertaken by the board, decisions were taken to ensure a better managed service. The board felt that it would be more appropriate for speech therapy services for people with a mental handicap in Roscommon to be provided by the Brothers of Charity, who are the major provider of mental handicap services in the country. The Brothers of Charity have provided increased speech therapy sessions in the county following the board's decisions.
