Ned O'Keeffe
Question:289 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide sufficient funding to provide a speech therapist at a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork. [23650/01]
Written Answers. - Speech Therapy Service.
The provision of services to persons with an intellectual disability in the Cork region is the responsibility of the Southern Health Board in the first instance.
I have been informed by the Southern Health Board that Charleville and district association is the voluntary intellectual disability organisation providing speech and language therapy services to special classes and special schools, on the board's behalf, in the north Cork catchment area. However, due to the difficulties in the recruitment and retention of para-medical staff, Charleville and district association is unable to provide this service at present. To address the immediate situation, arrangements are currently being put in place whereby the board's community services will facilitate the school and as an interim measure will provide one session per week to this school for the period November 2001 to June 2002. Extensive efforts are being made by the board and agencies such as Charleville and district association to recruit speech therapists both nationally and internationally.