Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 220: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will work with the relevant Departments to provide €50,000 to replace the outdated lift at a centre (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [38209/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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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, my 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 221: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there is a legal obligation on the part of her Department to ensure that speech therapy, occupational therapy and psychological services are provided to children of secondary school age who have been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders where the Department of Education and Science has requested that such services be provided and where the Health Service Executive has not had the funding to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38245/05]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 225: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the areas in which the Health Service Executive has been requested by the Department of Education and Science to provide speech therapy, language therapy, occupational therapy and psychological services to support the educational requirements of children with special needs; the legal obligations they have to satisfy such a request; the timeframe in which the Health Service Executive are required to deliver these services; the areas in which funding for such services is sourced should the service providers be operating at capacity prior to the request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38250/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 225 together.

The issues raised by the Deputy are dealt with under sections 31 to 33 of the Health Act 2004. These sections provide for the preparation, submission, approval and implementation of the Health Service Executive's service plan. The plan should set out the type of health and personal social services to be provided by the executive during the period to which the plan relates. In developing the service plan, the executive must have regard to section 31(12) of the Act which requires that the estimate must be consistent with the Vote for the executive as published by the Government in the Estimates for supply services.

The Deputy will be aware of section 7 of the Education Act 1998 as amended by section 40 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 and the Health Act 2004. That section allows for the Minister for Education and Science in carrying out his or her functions in respect of the provision, planning and co-ordination of support services, following consultation with the Minister for Health and Children, to request the assistance of the Health Service Executive. While my Department is in regular communication with the Department of Education and Science regarding this and other issues, the consultation procedure in regard to this process has not yet been completed.

The remainder of the Deputy's questions relate 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, my 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 222: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the high demand for speech therapists, language therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists that currently exists the measures she has taken or proposes to take in order that the growing number of children requiring these services can be accommodated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38247/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government has taken a planned approach to building up capacity in the area of multi-disciplinary support services for both adults and children with disabilities. This includes, in addition to the provision of additional financial resources, various initiatives related to the training, recruitment and retention of key allied health professionals as follows: the expansion of the number of training places available for speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, nursing and other key professionals; national and overseas recruitment initiatives and enhancement of career opportunities.

The level of support available from these health-related support services to children with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities and autism has been incrementally increasing annually in recent years as a result of the additional funding which has been made available by the Government. As part of the national disability strategy, further additional funding amounting to €11.5 million in 2006 is being made available to the Health Service Executive in respect of the provision of health-related support services for adults and children with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities and autism, with a priority in 2006 on enhancing assessment and support services for children with disabilities. Additional funding amounting to €17.5 million is also being provided in 2006 to enhance the level and range of multi-disciplinary support services available to adults and children with mental illness.

This ongoing investment in multi-disciplinary support services for persons with disabilities, including those with mental illness, together with specific initiatives to be taken in the area of recruitment, will assist the process of building capacity within these services in a very significant manner.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 223: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of children who are on waiting lists for speech therapy, language therapy, occupational therapy and psychological services throughout the country; the way in which she intends to ensure that all of these children receive the services they require; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38248/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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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, my 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 224: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason speech therapy, language therapy, occupational therapy and psychological services are not being provided by the Health Service Executive for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38249/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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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, my 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.