Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Health Board Allowances.

Mary Wallace

Ceist:

949 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health and Children if he supports a situation where an applicant for a disabled person's grant has to wait almost a year for their application to be processed due to a nine month wait for the occupational therapy section of the assessment in view of the fact the occupational therapy section are forced to operate a waiting list for such assessment due to the large number of clients referred to them applying for disabled persons grants; and if he will enter into discussions with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to bring about a speedier process for dealing with these applications. [15632/02]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O'Malley):

The provision of health related support services, including occupational therapy, is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in the first instance. Funding is provided to the health boards to address the waiting lists on a priority basis. The first priority is individual needs. Other needs such as centre-based needs may be addressed as resources permit.

In response to my concern regarding the current 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 certain professional therapists including occupational therapists. The study, a comprehensive quantitative assessment of workforce require ments for qualified personnel in this area to 2015 was published on 25 July 2001.

The report concludes that a major expansion is essential in the numbers of therapy professionals over the next fifteen years including an increase of over 150 per cent in occupational therapists. This will require a significant increase in training places with a recommended annual increase of 75 course places for occupational therapy. I am therefore 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. Against this background, my Department would be happy to consider any suggestions regarding the process for dealing with disabled persons grants.