Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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45. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions being taken to increase the supply of occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and physiotherapists. [20791/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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This Government is prioritising workforce planning across health and disability services, including in Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Physiotherapy disciplines.

An interdepartmental working group is currently underway with senior officials from my Department, the Department of Health, HSE, HEA, Department of Education and Youth, and Department of Children, Equality and Disability. My Department instructed the HEA to request expressions of interest from Higher Education Institutions to increase capacity on programmes of key disciplines identified by the Department of Health. The working group are currently in the process of shortlisting these options to provide recommendations to the Cabinet Sub Committee for Disabilities.

Last July, my Department and the Department of Health prepared a joint memo for Government, committing both Departments to prioritising funding for the expansion of key healthcare disciplines, including therapy professions.

Significant progress has already been made, with nearly 1,000 additional places created in health and social care programmes at Irish universities in recent years. In September 2024, expansions included:

• 40 additional Occupational Therapy places (20 at the University of Limerick and 20 at the University of Galway).
• 15 additional Speech and Language Therapy places at the University of Galway