Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Speech Therapy Service.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

423 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the shortage in the number of speech and language therapists and physiotherapists available to the public service; the proposals he has to train and recruit personnel in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20998/01]

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

463 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he has taken to increase the number of occupational therapists in the public health service; if he has had meetings with the Minister for Education and Science regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21390/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 463 together.

In response to my concern regarding current severe labour shortages affecting the therapy professions nationwide my Department commissioned a report from Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates on current and future supply and demand conditions in the labour market for speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. The study, a comprehensive quantitative assessment of workforce requirement for qualified personnel in these areas to 2015 was published on 25 July last. The report concludes that a major expansion is essential in the numbers of therapy professionals over the next 15 years comprising a doubling in the number of physiotherapists, an increase of over 150% in occupational therapists and a fourfold increase in speech and language therapists.

This will require a significant increase in training places with a recommended annual increase of 75 course places for both speech and language therapy and occupational therapy and 25 course places for physiotherapy. Other key recommendations of the report include provision of sufficient clinical placements within the health service through the establishment of a national network of clinical placement co-ordinators, the need for fast-track qualification and review of the existing training system, a concerted recruitment from overseas, the establishment of the planned system of statutory registration consistent with the requirement for a patient-centred health service and a career structure, workload, working practices and skills-mix issues encompassed in the context of the report of the expert group on various health professions, published April 2000.

I am working closely with my colleague the Minister for Education and Science to ensure the rapid provision of the additional places as an urgent priority. To this end an inter-agency working group has been established comprising representatives of my Department, the Department of Education and Science and the Higher Education Authority – HEA. The Higher Education Authority has initiated a formal bidding process between third level educational institutions to respond to the training needs identified in the study.