Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Independent)
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610. To ask the Minister for Health in view of the impact that the delay in hiring key health specialist professionals can have on the welfare of vulnerable persons including many children and the need to provide communities with reassurance that the needs of such persons will be addressed, if he will provide specific details regarding the date on which the recruitment of 13 occupational therapists, two physiotherapists and seven speech and language therapists for the Health Service Executive West area will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18570/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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On 27th March last, I conveyed approval to the HSE to recruit the following posts for Primary Care Teams: 70 Public Health Nurses; 37 Registered General Nurses; 51 Occupational Therapists; 46 Physiotherapists; and 47 Speech & Language Therapists. It is my firm intention to have these posts filled as soon as possible. Arrangements are now being made within the HSE to coordinate the necessary documentation for submission to its National Recruitment Service (NRS) to proceed with the filling of the posts. The NRS has confirmed that panels are in place for the above grades and they will be in a position to proceed to offer the posts once all the necessary documentation is received. The expectation is that appointments will be made as soon as possible thereafter. In relation to the specific question about HSE West, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy when further information becomes available.