Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the long waiting list for speech and language assessment in north Clondalkin, Dublin 22 and the adverse effect this is having on pupils in national schools in the area with speech and language difficulties and the need to fill the vacancy for a full-time speech and language therapist at a centre (details supplied) as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11068/08]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The recruitment pause put in place in September 2007 was initiated as part of the HSE financial break-even plan to facilitate the delivery of services on budget in accordance with the provisions of the 2007 National Service Plan. This temporary pause in recruitment ended on 31st December 2007 and any posts falling vacant from 1st January 2008 can be filled subject to the provisions of a detailed employment control circular issued by the HSE on January 8th. During this recruitment pause, the HSE put in place a derogation process to deal with the filling of essential posts to protect front-line services and close to 900 posts were approved under this process.

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 the 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 to the Deputy. With regard to the Deputy's previous Parliamentary Question on this matter, I understand that the HSE has issued a reply to the Deputy.