Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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368. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the number of extra occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and psychological services to address the shortfall which exists in all three services which have been recruited in 2013; if he has fully committed the moneys promised earlier this year towards this recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54934/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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All staffing arrangements have to be considered in the light of the current budgetary pressures in the health service and the need to reduce the numbers employed throughout the public sector. This has been combined with a firm focus on improving public service efficiency and effectiveness. The Haddington Road Agreement provides for health service staff to increase their working hours. The value ascribed to this element of the Agreement is in the region of five million hours annually for the health workforce as a whole. The HSE can also make staff appointments once it remains within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so.

As the recruitment of therapists is a matter for the HSE in the first instance, the Deputy's enquiry has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.