Vol. 523 No. 2
162 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with the number of graduates entering the workforce in speech and language therapy; and if he will have considerations made into advertising vacant positions in the UK, America and Canada as an interim measure in view of the difficulties experienced by health boards in recruiting people to this position. [20829/00]
I have recently commissioned a workforce planning survey to report on the prospective supply and demand for certain therapy groups, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, between now and 2015. This report will be presented by end of 2000 and will address the number of additional training places required for these professions. Through the Higher Education Authority, the possibility of increasing the number of training colleges, as well as training places will be addressed as a result of the findings of this survey.
Arrangements for advertising posts in the health sector are a matter for each individual employing agency. I am having the entire advertising arrangements examined and I have asked the office for health management to carry out an examination and come up with more innovative ways of recruiting for the health services.
Question No. 163 taken with No. 159.
