Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jun 1999

Vol. 505 No. 6

Written Answers. - Speech Therapy Services.

John V. Farrelly

Ceist:

143 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with the number of speech therapists in the North-Eastern Health Board area and those assigned in County Meath; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that only one hour per week is available for some children with learning and speech disabilities; if he has further satisfied himself that this is adequate taking into consideration that children who are pre-school are in great need of this service; the steps, if any, he will take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14213/99]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

144 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to provide additional resources for speech therapy in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14223/99]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

145 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the additional funding, if any, provided for speech therapy in the Western Health Board area in 1999; the breakdown of this allocation on a county basis; the way in which these services have been enhanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14224/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 144 and 145 together.

The provision of speech and language therapy services is a matter for the relevant health board. Speech and language therapy services in all areas are in need of development. Health boards regard this as a priority and 31 additional posts of speech and language therapists were created in the health boards in the four years between 1995 and 1998. The report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, published in 1996, sets out the requirements for the development of services in that sector, including speech and language therapy services. As recommended in the report, regional co-ordinating committees, representative of the voluntary and statutory service providers, have been established in each health board. One of the functions of the committees is to advise the chief executive officer of the health board on the priorities for the investment of fund ing made available for the development of services.

This year, £3 million, rising to £6 million on a full year cost basis in 2000, has been made available for the development of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. I understand that the Western Health Board has allocated £40,000 from its development funding this year to enable additional speech and language therapists to be appointed in Mayo and Roscommon and for the appointment of a locum in Roscommon to ensure continuity of service.

The recruitment of paramedical staff generally is presenting problems throughout the health board regions. Following a labour court recommendation in 1997, an expert group was established to examine and report on various issues relating to paramedical grades, including speech and language therapists. One of the issues to be examined by this group is the problems which arise in relation to the recruitment and the retention of various paramedical grades. It is anticipated that the report of this group will be completed later this year.