Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of speech therapists appointed to cover the Tipperary north region; the reason for the delay in speech therapy intervention for children; her plans and timeframe to reduce the waiting time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4578/09]

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. There were a number of issues contributing to difficulties accessing therapy services, one of which had been the supply of qualified personnel available to fill vacant posts. 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. 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 health care needs of the population into the future. In this regard, since 1997, the number of training places for speech and language therapy has been increased from 25 to 105 which represents an increase of 320%.

Almost 130,000 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 health care professionals employed in the public health services. The numbers employed in speech and language therapy has also grown significantly, from 282 whole time equivalents employed in December 1997 rising to 750 whole time equivalents employed in December 2008, which represents an increase of 166%.

The Government is committed to ensuring continued adequate recruitment of professional staff across a range of community settings to ensure the continued development of community services. Additional funding of €20 million has been provided in 2009 for health and education services for children with special educational needs. This funding will provide a total of 125 additional therapy posts in the HSE targeted at children of school-going age. 90 of these will be in the disability services, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists. 35 additional posts will be provided for child and adolescent mental health services, including clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists for new and existing multi-disciplinary teams.

In addition, it is intended that certain key health and social care professional posts, including speech and language therapists, are to be protected by setting employment floors for these grades within the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2009. These posts are essential to the development of a number of services areas such as disability (including speech and language therapy), child adolescent mental health services and child protection services. In order to protect these posts, it is envisaged that the HSE will establish minimum employment levels to be maintained within each of these occupations in the health sector in 2009. The recruitment and retention of these key front line professional posts is vital to ensure continued progress in the development of community settings.

With regard to the number of speech and language therapists appointed to the Tipperary North region, it is a matter for the HSE 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. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people in Tipperary north awaiting speech and language therapy services, including those awaiting assessment and those awaiting therapy; the number of speech and language therapists in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4579/09]

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the waiting list for children seeking speech therapy in Tipperary north; if she will compare them with other areas nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4580/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together.

As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of children in north Tipperary awaiting orthodontic treatment including those awaiting assessment; the number of orthodontists in Tipperary north; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4581/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.