Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 176: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties in schools due to the long delays in accessing speech and language therapy for primary and post-primary students; her proposals to tackle this year long waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27920/06]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 177: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the problems in accessing support services for post-primary pupils such as speech and language therapy, behavioural therapists, social workers, and so on; the measures she intends taking to ensure that these services can be accessed in the shortest possible time by all schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27921/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.

My Department understands from the Health Service Executive that its priority in 2006 is to increase service provision in the area of multi-disciplinary supports to meet obligations to children with developmental delay, in the home, in the community and in other appropriate settings. In this regard €12.5m was made available by the HSE from the 2006 investment programme to provide multi-disciplinary supports to people with intellectual, physical and sensory disability and/or autism.

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 these matters investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.