Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is very frustrating for newly qualified speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists who have taken unpaid placements and attended interviews in Athlone at their own expense to still be in limbo, having been offered jobs during the summer but not having had a chance to take them up. A three-card trick has been played by the Government in announcing the embargo has been lifted. It is doubly frustrating for those therapists and for families to see staffing levels in Kerry of 37% for occupational therapists, where staff can barely maintain the service and cannot tackle the waiting list, and 50% for physiotherapists, while in Killarney the acute list has gone from six to 28 weeks, delaying recovery further and keeping beds full. When will the money announced by the Government be apportioned? Will priority be given to areas such as Kerry where the staffing levels are so low?

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