Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 1

Written Answers. - Music Therapy.

Cecilia Keaveney

Ceist:

384 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health and Children further to the response of the North-Western Health Board (details supplied) the role which arts and music therapy can play in the provision of services for children with development co-ordination difficulties either in prevention or cure terms, the efforts being made to promote the provision of music therapy courses at third level and to expand music therapy options for the regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26389/03]

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

The provision of music therapy courses at third level is a matter in the first instance for the Department of Education and Science and the Higher Education Authority. My Department would be pleased to offer whatever assistance it could to those bodies in relation to this matter and will continue to work with the health boards to further enhance the broad range of support services, including music therapy, required to meet the identified needs of people with disabilities.