Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in issuing a response to Parliamentary Question No. 98 of 11 May 2006. [27397/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I have been advised that the Health Service Executive (HSE) issued a reply to the Deputy on the 18th May, 2006, in relation to Question No. 98.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 87: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason additional opticians are not being hired to reduce the waiting times for eye tests for children in Maynooth Health Centre, which stands at 12 months and Naas Health Centre, which stands at 11 months, in view of the fact that the public service recruitment embargo does not affect the health service and that the waiting time in Newbridge Health Centre is only three months and the recent exercise in improving administrative efficiency in the optical service has increased waiting times. [27399/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, 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.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 88: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that due to imposition of staff ceilings in 2003 the community speech and language therapy service in Kildare and West Wicklow were advised that all vacant posts were frozen and that no recruitment could take place, despite her assurance that recruitment in the public health service is not affected by the public sector recruitment embargo, and as a result of this the service is short 14 additional therapists and the waiting time for assessment for speech and language therapy is now 20 months; and the action she intends to take regarding this service which is now at collapsing point. [27402/06]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will address the shortage of speech and language therapists (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27750/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 152 together.

Let me say at the outset that there is no embargo on the recruitment of staff in the public health service. Nor does my Department set employment quotas at national level for any grade in the public health service. It is a matter for the Health Service Executive, as part of its management of its employment ceiling, to determine the appropriate staffing mix required to deliver its service plan priorities, including speech and language therapy services. I have consistently emphasised the importance of prioritising the filling of front line vacancies in complying with approved employment levels. I have also emphasised the need to achieve an appropriate balance between clinical and non-clinical posts.

Approved employment levels for the health service have been adjusted since 2002 in line with Government policy on public sector employment and also to take account of specific policy measures aimed at increasing service levels. My Department is currently in discussions with the Department of Finance and the Health Service Executive to agree revisions to the health service employment ceiling to take account of service developments, including disability services.

A priority for the HSE 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. The investment package will facilitate the recruitment of up to 200 extra therapists, particularly speech and language, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. Due to the current limited supply of these grades it is acknowledged that in the short term recruitment from overseas will be required. The HSE has put in place a project plan for this.

In regard to the recruitment of speech and language therapists generally, the Deputies will be pleased to note that the Health Service Personnel Census shows a total of 596 wholetime equivalent (WTE) staff at end March, 2006. This represents an increase of 315 WTE staff or 112% since end December, 1997. The number of training places in speech and language therapy has increased by 300% since 2001.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 89: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of times a general practitioner, a nurse, a physiotherapist and a chiropodist have been in attendance at the weekly clinic in Carbury in the 26 weeks since 1 January 2006. [27408/06]

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.