Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of occupational therapists within the South Western Area Health Board region; the efforts her Department has made to overcome shortfalls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23501/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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According to the health service personnel census, a total of 50.6 occupational therapists in whole time equivalent, WTE, terms were employed in the South Western Area Health Board region by the health board, voluntary hospitals and the intellectual disability sector at end-March 2004. This represents an increase of over 50%, plus 17.5, on the numbers employed at end-1999.

The Deputy may wish to note that responsibility for human resource planning, including the employment of occupational therapists, in the South Western Area Health Board rests with the regional chief executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has, therefore, requested the regional chief executive to investigate the matters raised by the Deputy and reply to him directly.

At a national level, the continued implementation of the pay recommendations of the public service benchmarking body as well as improved career structures, enhanced opportunities for professional and career development, the availability of the fast track working visa scheme and the streamlining of procedures for the validation of overseas qualifications are designed to help sustain the improvements in staffing levels achieved for occupational therapy services, both at local and national level.

In addition, three new occupational therapy courses commenced in the 2003-04 academic year in UCC, NUIG and UL. In total, these courses will provide an additional 75 training places in occupational therapy. This expansion in training numbers has been identified in the Bacon report as sufficient to meet the long-term requirements for occupational therapists in Ireland.