Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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66. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a recruitment and training programme in place to fill vacancies in services for children such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy in counties Laois and Offaly [27894/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health Business Services (HBS) Recruit function in the HSE has established recruitment working groups with HSE Occupational Therapy Managers, Principal Psychology Managers, Physiotherapy Managers and Speech & Language Therapy Managers. The purpose of these working groups is to provide a collaborative, profession-led approach to the recruitment of these grades within the HSE.  The Groups have worked jointly to tailor and improve the selection and recruitment process in accordance with the needs of each profession.

The HSE has confirmed that CHO 8, which includes both County Laois and County Offaly,  benefited from the allocation of additional Speech & Language Therapy and Psychology posts under dedicated funding streams  secured in 2016.   In addition, Budget 2018 included dedicated funding for the recruitment of 40 additional Occupational Therapy posts from the third quarter of this year which, I understand,  will also have a geographical spread.

In relation to training, the HSE’s National Health & Social Care Professions (HSCP) Office was established to strategically lead and support health and social care professionals in maximising their potential and in achieving greatest impact in the design, planning, management and delivery of person-centred, integrated care.

To provide further information on services in Counties Laois and Offaly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.