Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 53: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her proposals to meet the speech and language requirements in all schools here in 2009 without exception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19506/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government emphasised its commitment to people with disabilities by allocating an additional €20 million in budget 2009 for health and education services for children with special educational needs. €10 million of this allocation will be to the Health Service Executive (HSE), and €10 million to the Department of Education and Science, to enable the services provided to children with special educational needs to be enhanced and strengthened.

The additional €10 million allocated to the Health Service Executive will provide for 125 additional therapy posts in the disability and mental health services, targeted at children of school-going age. Of this, an additional 90 posts will be provided in the disability services area, to include Speech and Language therapists, Occupational therapists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists for children's disability services. There will be 35 additional posts for the Child and Adolescent mental health services, including Clinical Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language therapists and Social Workers for new and existing multi-disciplinary teams.

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