Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of speech and language therapists employed; and the estimated cost of employing an additional 100. [29451/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to advise the Deputy that the provision of Therapy services, including Speech and Lanaguage Therapy services, is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), under the Health Act 2004.

The Deputy will also be aware, however, that I recently announced that a demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services will be introduced for the 2018/19 school year.

The project will be managed and co-ordinated by the National Council for Special Education.

The model has been developed by the Departments of Education, Children and Youth Affairs, Health, and the Health Service Executive, and is part of the Government’s overall aim to help every child to fulfil their full potential.

The purpose of the project is to test a model of tailored therapeutic supports that allows for early intervention in terms of providing speech and language and occupational therapy within ‘educational settings’.  This innovative pilot will complement existing HSE funded provision of essential therapy services.

The project is taking place in Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 7 Region of South West Dublin, Kildare and West Wicklow.

75 schools, including a representative sample of primary, post primary, and special schools will take part in the project.

75 Pre-school settings associated with primary schools participating in the project are being included in order to provide for therapy interventions to be made at the earliest possible time and to create linkages between pre-school and primary school provision.

The project aims to develop a more cohesive, collaborative approach to delivering supports to children by allowing therapists and educational professionals to work together in schools.

It is intended that 19 speech and language therapists and 12 Occupational Therapists will be recruited by the HSE to work with the 150 schools and pre-schools. The therapists will then be assigned to the NCSE to deploy to schools for the course of the project.

My Department therefore does not currently employ speech and lanaguage therapists, which continue to be employed by the HSE.

Questions in relation to the total number of speech and language therapists which are currently employed, and the estimated cost of employing an additional 100 posts, should therefore be referred to the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive.