Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2022
125. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline his engagement with the Minister for Health to increase the number of graduates from clinical therapies, including but not limited to, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and psychology, to address shortages in disability services. [59577/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits the Department of Health to working with the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies to improve the availability of health professionals and reform their training to support integrated care across the entire health service, including in relation to disability services.
Significant engagement is ongoing between my Department, the Department of Health, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the Department of Education to develop a joined-up approach to meet system level demand in therapeutic disciplines.
Health and social care programmes are by their nature complex in delivery. The availability of appropriate placements and placement supports is a key enabler of expansion. A working group, including representation from the Department of Health, HSE and CORU, as well as the higher education sector, has been established to specifically examine how placements can be secured to facilitate greater numbers of training places.
My Department was also represented on the interdepartmental Working Group which was tasked with developing an Action Plan for Disability Services for the 2022-2025 period. This is expected to be published before the end of the year.
My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce and support a range of clinical teams in our health services.
