Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 531: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of third level college places provided each year since 2000 in occupational physiotherapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8583/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In May 2002, the then Minister for Education and Science announced the provision of 175 additional therapy training places to tackle shortages of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists as identified by the report, Current and Future Supply and Demand Conditions in the Labour Market for Certain Professional Therapists, which was undertaken by Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates in 2001 — the Bacon report. The extra places were provided at the following institutions: University College Cork, 25 places — BSc in speech and language therapy, 25 places — BSc in occupational therapy; National University of Ireland, Galway, 25 places — BSc in speech and language therapy, 25 places — BSc in occupational therapy; University of Limerick, 25 places — MSc in speech and language therapy, 25 places — MSc in occupational therapy, 25 places — BSc in physiotherapy.

The BSc in physiotherapy at the University of Limerick commenced in 2002. However the remaining 150 new places did not come on line until 2003. Prior to the introduction of these new places, the annual output of physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists was 120, 25 and 35 respectively.