Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

A particular priority for the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Education and Science in recent years has been the expansion of the supply of therapy graduates, including speech and language therapists to deal with the problem referred to by Deputy Stanton. Additional courses in speech and language therapy were established in three universities. University College Cork, National University Ireland Galway and University of Limerick established courses in speech and language therapy with an initial intake of 25 places on each course.

The University of Limerick courses are at Masters level and the first cohort graduated in 2005. The first cohort from the bachelor degree programmes in University College Cork and National University Ireland Galway graduated this year. This investment represents an increase in training capacity of 320%, from 25 to 105 places, in speech and language therapy. Demand for speech and language therapy in the health services is very significant, hence the substantial investment provided over the past number of years.

The number of speech and language therapists employed in the public health service rose from 281 whole-time equivalents in 1997 to 648 whole-time equivalents at end December 2006, which is an increase of 131% over the period. The Government is committed to further investment in disability services, via the multi-annual investment plan, and in primary care services. These services will see further increases in the speech and language therapy resources available.

I wish to refer briefly to funding for people with disabilities. Between 1997 and 2006, additional revenue and capital funding of €851 million was invested in health-funded support services for people with disabilities. Of this, €549 million was provided for persons with intellectual disabilities and those with autism. A sum of €75 million for revenue purposes was provided for disability services in the 2007 budget. Of this, €41 million was provided for people with intellectual disabilities and those with autism.

As my time is exhausted, I will conclude on that note.

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