Occupational Therapy Assessments
163. Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she is taking to decrease the waiting list for an occupational therapy assessment; if she will sanction the employment of more community occupational therapy posts within the health service and rescind the employment ceiling which has been in place since March 2003; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38813/05]
Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley): 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. There is no embargo on recruitment to any area of the health services nor is there any plan to introduce one.