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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 7

Written Answers. - Speech Therapy Services.

Mary Wallace

Ceist:

51 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the level and nature of speech therapy services available from his Department to children. [10579/96]

Mary Wallace

Ceist:

57 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the level and nature of speech therapy services available from his Department to children. [10580/96]

Limerick East): Speech and language therapy services are provided by health boards as well as voluntary agencies. The latest statistics available to my Department show that there were approximately 240 whole time equivalent speech and language therapists employed by health boards, voluntary hospitals and the main mental handicap agencies at the end of 1994.

Speech and language therapy services include the assessment, diagnosis, management and treatment of a range of communication difficulties, including problems in the areas of language, speech, voice and fluency. Therapists also have a role in the assessment and treatment of clients with swallowing problems. They are involved in the prevention and early detection of communication problems. The majority of therapists are involved in the provision of services to children. Clients are seen in a number of different settings including health centres, special schools, child psychiatry clinics, pre-schools, special speech and language units attached to schools, as well as child and family clinics.

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