Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 6

Written Answers. - Speech Therapy Service.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

236 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals he has to rectify the situation whereby the number of days of speech therapy services provided at St. Joseph's school, Parnell Street, Waterford, has been reduced from two to one per week, when the school in fact had applied for three days per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27335/00]

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

278 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is only one speech therapist available one day a week for St. Joseph's special school, Parnell Street, Waterford; if in the circumstances, he will consider making a speech therapist permanently available to this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27487/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 278 together.

As the Deputies are aware, the provision of health related support services for children with an intellectual disability and their families in the Waterford region is the responsibility of the South Eastern Health Board in the first instance.

Between 1993 and 1999, St. Joseph's special school received three days speech and language therapy per week. One speech and language therapist who was providing two of the three sessions in St. Joseph's left the board's services in 1999, which resulted in the service to St. Joseph's being reduced to one day per week. The board is encountering serious difficulties in recruiting a replacement.

The board has informed me that its speech and language therapy services are under staffed by 50%. Four therapists have left the services since June 1999. New posts have also been created and it has not yet been possible to fill these, with the result that there are currently a number of vacant posts. One new member of staff was recruited in October 2000 as a result of a college sponsorship programme. The board is continuing to pursue this avenue of recruitment.

The board has expressed its regret that many categories of clients cannot access the desired level of service due to this situation, but has assured me that these difficulties are not the result of a lack of commitment to the filling of these posts. As soon as additional therapists are recruited by the board, every effort will be made to resume the original three-day service to the children in St. Joseph's.

My Department, while acknowledging the various initiatives which have been and continue to be undertaken to recruit various categories of staff, has asked the health boards/Eastern Regional Health Authority to explore all measures to ensure that as many children as possible have access to the therapy services. I am also working with the Department of Education and Science and the Higher Education Authority to increase the number of training places available for the various allied health professionals, including speech and language therapists as quickly as possible.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

237 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals he has to ensure that a sufficient number of speech therapists are trained to meet the needs of schools nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27336/00]

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

262 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals he has to entice Irish trained speech therapists back to work here; the plans he has to entice foreign trained speech therapists to take up work here in order that the present shortage of speech therapists can be met in the short to medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27339/00]

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

279 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are insufficient numbers of speech therapists available to address the needs of children with speech difficulties; and the practical steps he is taking to solve the problem. [27488/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 237, 262 and 279 together.

My Department has engaged Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates to undertake a workforce planning study to report on the prospective supply and demand for a number of therapy grades, including speech and language therapists. The report is expected by the end of the year and will address the number of additional training places required for these professions.

In the interim, progress has been made in increasing the number of training places for speech and language therapists and an additional eight places have been made available by the colleges for the October 2000 intake of students.

I am committed to taking all appropriate steps to promote the recruitment and retention of health services staff, including speech and language therapists. When the workforce planning study is to hand I will be considering all possible options to encourage qualified speech and language therapists to work in the Irish system, including those working abroad.