Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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672. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in respect of the €20 million promised to be spent this year tackling the shortage of occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and similar posts for areas such as Kildare and west Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36133/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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In 2012, the HSE completed a detailed analysis of the numbers and distribution of public health nurses, registered general nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. The analysis revealed considerable variation across the HSE's 17 Integrated Service Areas in ratios of health care professionals to population, and to population numbers in areas of high deprivation.

Based on this exercise, in 2013, Primary Care funding of €20 million, nationally, will be invested to support the recruitment of prioritised front-line primary care team posts and enhance the capacity of the primary care sector.

I issued approval to the HSE on the 27th March 2013 to commence recruitment to Primary Care Teams with immediate effect of the following additional 251 Primary Care posts:

- 70 Public Health Nurses;

- 37 Registered General Nurses;

- 51 Occupational Therapists;

- 46 Physiotherapists; and

- 47 Speech & Language Therapists.

The allocation and distribution of the above posts is based on bringing each Integrated Service Area, where staffing is below the national average, towards the national average.

In relation to the specific issue of posts in Kildare and West Wicklow, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.