Health Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2006

Tuesday, 5 December 2006

Ceisteanna (288, 289, 290, 291)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

313 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the guidelines set down for the position of the school based occupational therapist by the Health Service Executive in County Kildare; the way the backlog of requests for appointments will be dealt with; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 60 children on a waiting list since 2001 for this service; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that small rural schools with students seeking this service will not have such a service in the foreseeable future; her views on whether in such circumstances a scheme such as the National Treatment Purchase Fund will overcome the present backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41636/06]

Freagraí scríofa

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

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

314 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that due to its stated position of lack of funding the Health Service Executive cannot provide a proper occupational therapy service to facilitate treatment for children needing such a service in the primary schools of County Kildare; her plans to ensure such funding is made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41637/06]

Jack Wall

Ceist:

316 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that due to its stated position of lack of funding the Health Service Executive is not in a position to overcome the backlog of treatment for children seeking an occupational therapist service in the primary schools of County Kildare by funding the children’s treatment in the private sector; her plans to overcome the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41639/06]

Jack Wall

Ceist:

317 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the means that the Health Service Executive can use to overcome its stated position that due to lack of funding it cannot provide the much needed occupational therapy service to children in primary schools in County Kildare to overcome the backlog of over 60 children seeking the service and that due to the said position it cannot grant aid or provide funding to parents who due to their financial position cannot seek aid and obtain such services in the private sector. [41640/06]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 314, 316 and 317 together.

The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.