Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank all the Deputies for the issues raised. Deputy Bacik asked the initial question about therapists. Approximately 461 were approved by the Cabinet today. That was sweating the existing asset, if you like, within our third level system, seeing how many additional places we can provide in addition to those already in place across a range of therapies. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was asked by the Cabinet subcommittee that met two months ago to come back in a month and tell it what can be done with third-level colleges. In fairness, the Minister, Deputy Lawless, came back and secured an additional 461 places. That is just an initial step. There will be a more comprehensive programme to get additional investment in the universities with higher numbers again and additional capacities for therapists for next year. That will be crucial. The idea of an assistant therapist grade will also be explored, which could be very effective and useful in supporting therapists in schools or in CDNTs. I think that was the core issue the Deputy raised.

See this speech in context