The programme for Government includes a promise to increase the number of occupational and speech therapists. In fact, the promise is to increase the number of speech therapists by 25%, bringing the number to over 1,100. I raised this matter a couple of weeks ago with the Tánaiste. On that occasion, she informed me that a lot of money was being put into it and it was hoped to make progress. However, the problem was that they could not find adequate and properly qualified people available.

Since then I have been contacted by many people who tell me they are on a HSE panel for speech therapists. That panel has over 300 speech therapists on it, but the problem is that they are not being sanctioned for recruitment. That is the case all over the country.

In my particular area, many people are waiting for speech therapy services, including preschool children in particular, but they cannot get them because there are no speech therapists since they are not being recruited. I want a commitment from the Taoiseach and the Government that before September speech therapists and occupational therapists will be recruited.

I understand there are more than1,000 of them on a HSE panel waiting to be appointed but these appointments are not being sanctioned by the Government.

I will advise the Deputy of the progress made.