Vol. 527 No. 3
234 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which pay scales for speech therapists in the health services here com pare with pay scales in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28387/00]
235 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals he has to provide a more attractive career path for speech therapists in the health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28388/00]
236 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals he has to train speech therapy assistants or to provide training courses for parents in order that they could work in co-operation with and under the control of speech and language therapists as an emergency interim measure until sufficient speech therapists are available to meet the needs of children in the primary and special schools system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28389/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 to 236, inclusive, together.
The expert group report on various health professions recommended the creation of a clinical specialist post for the therapy grades, which includes speech and language therapists. The creation of this post would allow for a new grade of clinical specialist and for career progression for those who do not want to move into management. It would also ensure that clinical expertise is not lost to the professions. Under the auspices of the expert group, a number of such posts have been identified in speech and language therapy. However, as the speech and language therapists have withdrawn from the process, my Department is not in a position to allocate these posts at the moment.
The expert group report also recommended the establishment of a therapy assistant grade. Talks in relation to this issue are in progress with IMPACT and it is hoped to establish a formal training scheme for therapy assistants as soon as possible.
Pay for therapists is a matter which was dealt with by the expert group report on various health professions. This report was published in April 2000, was accepted by the Government and is in the process of being implemented by my Department. I do not have the pay scales for speech and language therapists in other countries available to me.
