Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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887. To ask the Minister for Health the number of approved speech and language therapist posts, by grade and clinical site, in tabular form; the number of permanent full-time and part-time posts; the number filled on a temporary, locum or agency basis; and the number of vacant posts. [25998/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is an operational matter, I have referred your question to the HSE to respond directly to you.

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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888. To ask the Minister for Health the number of permanent full-time speech and language therapists hired by the HSE from 2019 to date in 2025, in tabular form. [25999/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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889. To ask the Minister for Health the number of permanent speech and language therapists hired by the HSE on a part-time basis from 2019 to date in 2025, in tabular form. [26000/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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890. To ask the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists hired by the HSE on a temporary basis from 2019 to date in 2025, in tabular form. [26001/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is an operational matter, I have referred your question to the HSE to respond directly to you.

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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891. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to establish meaningful pathways to career progression for speech and language therapists in the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26002/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCPs) work autonomously in 26 different professional disciplines in therapy, diagnostic and psycho-social domains through the lifespan in both acute and community settings. This includes Speech and Language therapists (SLTs).

The Department of Health is developing the Policy on Advanced Practice in Health and Social Care Professions. The development of an evidence-based policy is progressing, with work underway by officials in the Department of Health, in collaboration with the Health Service Executive (HSE) National Health and Social Care Professions (HSCP) office. Budget 2025 provided funding to support continued growth of Advanced Practice in Nursing and Midwifery and to enable these roles to be rolled out for the first time for Health and Social Care Professionals.

Candidate Advanced Practitioner roles in Speech and Language Therapy will be considered within these roles where the priority is to deliver improved access to care by therapists with advanced skillsets.

The National Health and Social Care Professions Office (NHSCPO) in the HSE has provided funding for the provision of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to HSE employed/funded SLTs. The funding has been used to fund courses which promote the onward career development of HSE SLTs.

In addition, over 100 SLTs have received funding directly through the NHSCO to undertake post-graduate training in the last 2 years. These included business/leadership training opportunities, education and research training opportunities, and clinical opportunities such as cancer survivorship, trauma informed care, frailty, neurodiversity, rehabilitation, and disability.