Vol. 483 No. 6
262 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will put in place extra resources for speech therapist services in County Mayo in view of the fact that there is a shortage of speech therapists serving the county and in particular in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [20923/97]
The report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, which was published in December 1996, sets out the requirements for the development of the services, including speech and language therapy services. As recommended in this report, regional co-ordinating committees for services for people with physical and sensory disabilities are being put in place in the health boards. One of the primary functions of the co-ordinating committees will be to advise the chief executive officer of each board on priorities for the allocation of funds available for the development of the services. The question of allocating funds for the provision of additional speech and language therapist posts will be considered as part of this process.
In relation to the provision of a service to the person named by the Deputy, this is a matter for the Western Health Board and the matter has been referred to the chief executive officer of the board with a request that he reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
