Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 1

Written Answers. - Speech Therapy Service.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

361 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 556 of 5 November 2002, the progress which has been made regarding the development and introduction of the therapy assistant grade in speech and language therapy since publication of the report of the expert group on various health professionals published in April 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21481/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The report of the expert group on various health professionals published in April 2000, drew attention to the need to develop skills mix for the therapy professions, including speech and language therapy, and, in this context, recommended the introduction of a grade of therapy assistant, where appropriate. The expert group emphasised that the introduction of a therapy assistant grade should not be regarded as a substitute for existing personnel but rather should complement the role of the fully trained professional therapist. Consequently, the key prerequisite to the introduction of this new grade is the availability of adequate fully qualified therapists to appropriately oversee and supervise the provision of services provided by assistants, consistent with the provision of quality health care services to the public.

Hence, the main priority for my Department since the publication of the expert group report has been to address acute shortages in the numbers of therapy professionals employed in the health service. In this context, the Deputy may wish to note the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the Bacon report regarding the provision of a very substantial increase in training places, the introduction of new pay scales, career and management structures, the undertaking of a concerted overseas recruitment drive on behalf of all the health boards, the introduction of a fast track working visa scheme for health and social care professionals and the streamlining of procedures for the validation of overseas qualifications. These measures are reflected in the increase of 54 speech and language therapists, +15.6%, employed in the public health service over the past two years.

The report of the expert group also highlighted a number of important additional preconditions to the introduction of a grade of therapy assistant in the health service, including the development of suitably accredited training programmes and further consideration of the role of such assistants in service provision. It is envisaged that the establishment of a therapy advisory unit in my Department, a further recommendation of the expert group, working together with the health skills group, recently established under the aegis of my Department to examine key workforce planning issues including skills mix, can play an important role in progressing these issues and, hence, supporting the development and introduction of the role of therapy assistant.