The Eastern Regional Health Authority informs me that the filling of posts in a number of particular grades is as follows:
Psychologist – the current complement of psychologists in St. Joseph's in intellectual disability service is one senior psychologist and one basic grade psychologist. These posts are currently vacant due to the two post holders taking up appointments elsewhere in the public services. The posts have been advertised and interviews have been held under the auspices of the Local Appointments Commission, and the recommendation of the commission is awaited.
The Eastern Regional Health Authority's Provider Plan, 2001 identifies an additional basic grade psychologist for St. Joseph's service and arrangements are in train to advertise this post also through the Local Appointments Commission.
Physiotherapist – ongoing efforts to recruit a physiotherapist for St. Joseph's Service even on a part-time or sessional basis have been unsuccessful to date and these efforts are continuing. In the meantime urgent physiotherapy treatments for residents of St. Joseph's Services are provided in Beaumont Hospital.
The authority's Provider Plan, 2001 provides for recruitment of an additional post of physiotherapist for St. Joseph's services.
Speech therapist – St. Joseph's service currently has the services of a speech therapist on a half time basis. The authority's Provider Plan, 2001 provides for the appointment of a senior speech and language therapist in the current year.
Social worker – there is currently no social worker attached to St. Joseph's service. Up to now the authority's community psychiatric nurses have been providing a similar service. The authority's Provider Plan, 2001 provides for the recruitment of a senior social worker for St. Joseph's service in the current year.
In relation to staff recruitment generally, St. Joseph's service are experiencing ongoing difficulties in the recruitment of para-medical staff including occupational therapists in addition to the grades mentioned above. This is due primarily to the general shortage of available staff in these grades nationally.