Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 301: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason music therapy is not profiled in her Department's consolidated salary scales booklet thereby leaving it unable to feature as a listed profession in service delivery and thus ensuring there is no system to enable services to appoint music therapists; if she will make a statement on the response by the Health Service Executive to Question No. 286 of 25 October 2005. [32979/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The purpose of the consolidated pay scales issued by my Department is to show the nationally approved pay scales for recognised grades within the public health service. The appointment of Health Service Executive staff and their terms and conditions are matters for the executive itself in the first instance in the overall context of the provisions of the Health Act 2004 and national policies on public sector pay and employment. The establishment of new grades within the public health service, including the grade of music therapist, is also a human resource management matter for the Health Service Executive which must have regard to service requirements, the extent to which the service concerned can be provided by existing staff or professions and the distinct qualifications required. My Department is writing to the Health Service Executive to clarify the position.