Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan was placed on a four month waiting list and subsequently placed on a further six month waiting list for an appointment with a speech and language therapist; the further reason they are not receiving urgently required speech and language therapeutical intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6139/07]

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 Services 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.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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A particular priority for my Department and the Department of Education and Science in recent years has been the expansion of the supply of therapy graduates, including speech and language therapists and occupational therapists. In response to concerns regarding labour shortages, my Department commissioned a report from Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates on current and future supply and demand conditions to 2015 in the labour market for speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists (Bacon Report).

The report was published in 2001 and arising from its recommendations additional courses in speech and language therapy and occupational therapy providing 75 places in each discipline were established in three universities. UCC, NUIG and UL each established courses in both speech and language therapy and occupational therapy with 25 places on each of the 6 courses. The first cohort of graduates from the UL masters level courses in both speech and language therapy and occupational therapy courses graduated in 2005 and the first cohort from the bachelor degree programmes in both disciplines in UCC and NUIG will graduate this year. This investment represents an increase in training capacity of 300% in speech and language therapy and 240% in occupational therapy. The total number of speech and language therapy and occupational therapy training places now stands at 100 and 103 respectively, the level at which the Bacon Report recommended as being sufficient to meet current and future demand to 2015 for both professions.

Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.