Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 284: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of music therapists working under the Health Service Executive. [30542/05]

Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 285: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of vacancies within the Health Service Executive for music therapists. [30543/05]

Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 286: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the use of music therapy is important to the treatment of both paediatric and geriatric patients in view of international research on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30544/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 to 286, inclusive, together.

Both the Department and the Health Service Executive support the use of music therapy in the treatment of paediatric and geriatric patients and recognise the positive benefits for patients when music therapy is used in their treatment.

As regards the number of music therapists working in the HSE, this is a matter for the executive and my Department has requested its parliamentary affairs division to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.