Vol. 520 No. 5
129 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will appoint additional occupational therapists in view of the long delay in having occupational assessment carried out within the South Eastern Health Board area to deal with the backlog of cases currently outstanding where elderly persons have to wait up to three months to be assessed so that approval for urgent and necessary work in their homes can proceed. [16283/00]
The disabled persons grant's scheme is administered by the local authorities and the South Eastern Health Board on an agency basis within its area carries out an assessment of applicants for the grant. During 1999, as a result of difficulties in maintaining staffing levels in the paramedical area, a waiting list for occupational therapy services developed.
The South Eastern Health Board has now advised me that the full complement of occupational therapy staff is now employed and the waiting list has been reduced considerably.
