Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if additional speech and language therapists have been successfully recruited to the service in County Kildare. [17568/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There has been a growing demand for, and investment in, therapy services over the last number of years. A particular priority for this Department and the Department of Education and Science in recent years has been the expansion of the supply of therapy graduates. Training places for speech and language therapists have increased by 320% (from 25 to 105) while the number of speech and language therapists employed in the public health service has increased by 130% (from 282 to 649) since 1997.

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.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the present waiting times for optical tests for children in Maynooth and Naas Health Centres in County Kildare. [17570/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Child health examinations are provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to children under 6 years of age and children attending national school in accordance with Section 66 of the Health Act, 1970. Under Section 67 of that Act, such children are eligible for HSE ophthalmic services in respect of problems noted at child health examinations.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for Primary Care services, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. 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 335: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the present waiting time for children for hearing tests in County Kildare. [17571/07]

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.