Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 6

Written Answers. - Occupational Therapist Numbers.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

113 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the total number of occupational therapists working in community care rather than with hospital inpatients, (a) nationally, (b) in each health board and (c) per 1,000 of population in each health board; and if he will make a statement on his plans to develop these services.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

Precise differentiation between occupational therapists employed in the community and those based in hospitals and institutions is not possible as the latter provide varying degrees of care to the community in addition to in-patients.

My Department's health services personnel census indicates that there were some 190 (wholetime equivalent) occupational therapists employed nationally at 31 December 1990. This represents an increase of 24 or 14.5 per cent over the past three years, an increase which reflects my Department's commitment to the development of community services.

I would also point out that some 225 (wholetime equivalent) personnel at 31 December 1990 were employed in a range of grades under the general heading teacher/instructor/therapist. It should be noted that in many instances these grades perform a broadly similar service to that provided by occupational therapists.

Details of occupational therapists employed nationally at 31 December 1990 together with the ratio per 1,000 of population are outlined in the following tabular statement:

Wholetime Equivalent Occupational Therapists Employed in Health Board Areas at 31 December 1990.

	Number Employed	Per 1,000 Population
Eastern Health Board	106.8	.087
Midland Health Board	9.0	.043
Mid-Western Health Board	7.9	.025
North-Eastern Health Board	12.0	.040
North-Western Health Board	20.5	.096
South-Eastern Health Board	1.7	.004
Southern Health Board	17.4	.032
Western Health Board	14.5	.042
Total	189.8	.054