156 Mr. Aylward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the serious shortage of speech and language therapists in the Waterford community services area; and if she will arrange to appoint additional therapists for this area to deal with the backlog of cases awaiting therapy. [18629/06]

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.