Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

On the Deputy's point that people who cannot avail of services would be able to avail of them if they moved to another area, this should not prevail under the Health Service Executive — it should be possible to avail of them. I will take up the specific matter if the Deputy gives me the details.

On the Deputy's point on the lack of planning, much planning is being done but the State cannot prevent anybody from taking a legal case if he is not happy with the services he is given. There is much planning associated with the provision of these services.

The Deputy is correct regarding the lack of provision of services in occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. However, we have provided increased capacity in the universities to educate people in these disciplines. Unfortunately, these people will not graduate for a few years. We are doing everything we can to try to recruit people from abroad to fill the positions in this area for which staff are unavailable in Ireland. Although everything is being done to hire more therapists, I agree there is a lack of them in the country at present.

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