Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge there is a vacuum. We need a structured approach as a country between health and education. We are all aware that the CDNT workforce has grown. There have been issues with recruitment but progress is being made. We want to do this in a way that does not undermine capacity within the health service. We want to recruit and retain more therapists overall in the public service. We have to get the structure right first. The danger is that we could create an alternative system that would ultimately undermine our capacities in the public service. The situation is not ideal. I fully accept there is a vacuum at the moment . In a very few places in the country, the private option has been utilised. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, has been asked to substantially increase the number of therapists in our schools. We also want to work with CORU to recruit more therapists from overseas. We recruit many professionals from overseas but there seems to be an issue with getting therapists' qualifications recognised here. That is an issue we will pursue.

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