Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the average length of time a patient has to wait for an assessment appointment with an occupational therapist; the number of people in the Dublin north west area waiting on an assessment appointment; the number of occupational therapists employed in the Health Service Executive in the Dublin region and specifically in the Dublin north west area; and her plans to recruit additional occupational therapists to ensure that all referrals are acted on more promptly. [21815/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal 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.

As the Deputy may be aware an additional sum of €75m for revenue purposes was provided to the Health Service Executive for Disability Services in the 2007 Budget. This amount incorporates the 2007 element of the Government's multi-annual investment programme for the National Disability Strategy. This Strategy is committed to enhancing, the level and range of multi-disciplinary support services to adults and children with an intellectual, physical and sensory disability and those with autism, including Therapy Services.