Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 7 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 4

Written Answers. - Health Board Staff.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

100 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other therapists which the health boards, his Department and other agencies funded by his Department, have employed; the estimated shortfall of staff in these fields to meet best practice in relation to servicing the population in need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15816/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The data on the numbers of occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and physiotherapists employed is taken from the health service personnel census of 31 December 1998. The 1999 census is in the process of being compiled.

With reference to the Deputy's question on the estimated shortfall of staff in these fields, I have agreed terms of reference for a workforce planning study for these therapy grades and work on the commissioning of this study is ongoing within my Department. I have asked the Higher Edu cation Authority to investigate the possibility of increasing the number of undergraduate places in the therapy courses from October 2000 and officials of my Department are also investigating the possibility of securing places in Northern Ireland colleges.

The data, broken down by main employing agency, in wholetime equivalents, is as follows:

Health Boards	31/12/98– w.t.e
Occupational Therapist	127.61
Occupational Therapist, Head I	2.00
Occupational Therapist, Head II	14.50
Occupational Therapist, Senior	81.33
Physiotherapist	252.67
Physiotherapist, Senior	98.36
Physiotherapist-in-charge (Grade I)	17.00
Physiotherapist-in-charge (Grade II)	2.00
Speech and Language Therapist	185.38
Speech and Language Therapist, Principal I	3.00
Speech and Language Therapist, Principal II	13.00
Speech and Language Therapist, Senior	37.06
	833.91
Mentally Handicap Homes
	1998
Occupational Therapist	14.56
Occupational Therapist, Head I	1.00
Occupational Therapist, Senior	11.57
Physiotherapist	15.29
Physiotherapist, Senior	6.57
Physiotherapist-in-Charge (Grade I)	1.00
Speech and Language Therapist	16.99
Speech and Language Therapist, Principal I	2.00
Speech and Language Therapist, Principal II	2.00
Speech and Language Therapist, Senior	14.68
	85.66
Voluntary Hospitals
	1998
Occupational Therapist	42.07
Occupational Therapist, Head I	2.00
Occupational Therapist, Head II	6.00
Occupational Therapist, Senior	29.50
Physiotherapist	150.93
Physiotherapist, Senior	58.01
Physiotherapist-in-Charge (Grade I)	9.00
Physiotherapist-in-charge (Grade II)	4.00
Physiotherapist-in-charge (Grade III)	5.00
Speech and Language Therapist	17.02
Speech and Language Therapist, Principal I	2.00
Speech and Language Therapist, Principal II	4.00
Speech and Language Therapist, Senior	18.84
	348.37