Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 May 1995

Vol. 452 No. 8

Written Answers. - Occupational Therapists.

Mary Wallace

Ceist:

117 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists employed in the eight health board areas; the budget for occupational therapists in each of the last ten years; the average waiting period to see an occupational therapist in each area; and his plans to expand this service. [8883/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The number of occupational therapists employed by health boards is as follows:

Board	Whole Time Equivalent
Eastern Health Board	143
Mid-Western Health Board	13
Midland Health Board	10
North-Eastern Health Board	15
North-Western Health Board	19
South-Eastern Health Board	10
Southern Health Board	18
Western Health Board	14
Total	242

The budget for occupational therapy services is comprehended in the overall funding of para-medical services, whether it is in a specialist unit in hospital or part of a community care programme at health board level. The average waiting period to be seen by an occupational therapist would vary considerably depending on the level of priority need attached to the case. Detailed information of this nature is recorded at health board level but is not collected by my Department.

As certain services are developed, there will be a need to increase the number of occupational therapists and this will be done as and when resources permit.

Additional funding, for example, has been provided since 1993 to develop services for people with physical disabilities. From this funding, £96,000 was allocated in 1993 and £240,000 in 1994 for occupational therapy services, resulting in the creation of 16 full-time and two part-time posts nationwide. An additional revenue allocation of £2 million has been made in 1995 and it is expected that a proportion of this will be devoted to further improvements in occupational therapy services.

The review group on services for people with a physical or sensory disability, which is due to report to me within the next few months, will make recommendations for the development of physical disability services, including occupational therapy services.