Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered a proposal regarding graduate speech and language therapists (details supplied) [56495/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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My Department is not aware of the proposal referred to by the Deputy.

Upon graduation from one of the recommended Irish training programmes speech and language therapy graduates are deemed fully qualified to work in the Irish health service having fulfilled the required hours of practice placements prior to graduation. Students on existing Irish programmes which lead to recognised qualifications in speech and language therapy are facilitated by the Irish health service to undertake clinical placements during the course and as part of their education and training programme. There is no postgraduate supervised practice required as a prerequisite to employment.

Irish graduates seeking work abroad in any of the EEA countries are assessed for qualification equivalence under Directive 2005/36/EC. A letter of good standing from the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists is not a requirement under the Directive.