Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who is on a waiting list for an orthopaedic chair, railing, and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34865/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 217: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there is co-ordination between her Department, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Education and Science with funding and resourcing of speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychological services for pre-school, primary and secondary students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34914/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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My Department consults with the Department of Education and Science in respect of policy related to the co-ordination and overall planning for the delivery of health related support services to children with special educational needs.

The management and delivery of health and personal social services under the Health Act 2004 are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. The executive works with the National Council for Special Education to co-ordinate liaison arrangements at local and regional level which will assist in delivering health related support services in the most effective and appropriate manner to those children who require them.

While there has been a significant investment in this area in recent years, the Health Service Executive continues to experience ongoing difficulties in meeting the demands for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychological services for pre-school, primary and secondary students.

My Department has taken a number of initiatives to address issues related to increasing the availability of appropriately trained personnel in these areas and the Government is committed to enhancing overall capacity in these services as part of the implementation of the national disability strategy.