Vol. 545 No. 4
411 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the success he has had in providing additional training places for occupational therapists and speech therapists to meet the high demand for such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30718/01]
The Department of Health and Children commissioned a report from Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates on current and future supply and demand conditions in the labour market for physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. The report was launched in July 2001 and it concluded that a major expansion in the numbers of therapy professionals was essential over the next 15 years. In relation to training places, the report recommends an annual increase of 75 training places for both speech and language therapy and occupational therapy and an additional 25 training places in physiotherapy. These increases are in addition to the extra number of places provided by the colleges in the last academic year in response to the request to expand provision in the light of perceived shortages.
An inter-agency working group has been established comprising representatives of my Department, the Department of Health and Children and the Higher Education Authority to ensure the rapid provision of the additional places as an urgent priority. The Higher Education Authority has sought proposals from third level institutions for the expansion of existing courses and-or the introduction of new courses, including graduate entry programmes, in response to the training needs identified in the report.
