Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the average length of time a patient has to wait to see an occupational therapist; and if there are plans in place to cut the waiting times for occupational therapists in the public service. [13548/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Over 120,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the healthcare needs of the population into the future.

Demand for occupational therapy in the health services is very significant, hence the substantial investment which has been provided over the last number of years. The number of occupational therapists employed in the public health service has grown from 288 WTEs in 1997 to 928 WTEs at end December 2006, a growth of 222%. The Government has also committed to further investment in disability services — via the multi-annual investment plan — and in primary care services. These services will see further increases in the occupational therapy resources available.

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 occupational therapists. Additional courses in occupational therapy were established in three universities. UCC, NUIG and UL each established courses in occupational therapy with an initial intake of 25 places on each of the 3 courses. The UL courses are at masters level and the first cohorts graduated in 2005. The first cohort from the bachelor degree programmes in UCC and NUIG will graduate this year. This investment represents an increase in training capacity of 240% in occupational therapy. The latest information available to my Department indicates that the total number of occupational therapy training places now stands at 120.

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.