Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Feb 1998

Vol. 486 No. 6

Written Answers. - Speech and Language Therapy.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

200 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when a speech and language therapist will be appointed by the Western Health Board in view of the fact that they were aware a member of staff was due to go on maternity leave and no replacement was arranged. [3032/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The appointment of a replacement speech and language therapist in the case referred to by the Deputy is a matter for the Western Health Board.

I have had inquiries made to the board in this matter and am advised that two sets of interviews for speech and language therapy posts were held prior to the staff member going on maternity leave. All those who attended for these interviews were offered the locum position to cover the period of maternity leave. However, I understand that the candidates declined. The board also approached two other speech therapists in this regard who also declined the locum position.

The board has assured me that it will continue its endeavours to recruit a suitable locum for this area for the period concerned. In the meantime the board's principal speech and langauge therapist will make every effort to ensure a level of service is provided to the urgent priority cases.