Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There has been a growing demand for, and investment in, speech and language 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. In this regard, training places for speech and language therapists have increased by 320% since 1997 (from 25 to 105). My Department has worked closely with the HSE in the provision of clinical placements for these students; an essential component of the therapy degree programmes.

There are currently four Speech and Language Therapy courses in Ireland — 3 undergraduate courses and one graduate entry course. The undergraduate courses are in University College Cork (UCC), Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG). The undergraduate courses are of 4 years duration leading to an honours degree. The graduate entry course is provided in the University of Limerick (UL) and is of 2 years duration. For entry to this course students are required to have a relevant undergraduate degree at honours level. The number of speech and language therapists employed in the public health service has grown from 282 wholetime equivalents in 1997 to 721 wholetime equivalents at end March 2008, a 156% growth in that period.

The part of the Deputy's question regarding the number of children who require speech and language therapy 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.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding access to speech therapy at the Bandon Clinic in County Cork; the number of persons on the waiting list for this service; and when she will provide a demand led service. [19938/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the Multi-Annual Investment Programme 2006-2009 under the Disability Strategy, the Government provided the Health Service Executive with an additional €75m in both 2006 and 2007. This funding included monies to provide new and enhanced services for people with disabilities, to implement Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which came into effect on June 1st 2007 for the under 5's and also for the continuation of the implementation of the transfer of persons with intellectual disability from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements. The Government is also honouring its promise in relation to the Multi-Annual Investment Programme for people with disabilities, with a further €50m investment which was announced in the 2008 Budget.

The Deputy's specific 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.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will assist in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3. [19973/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case 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.