James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action she will take to reverse the trend whereby physiotherapy graduates are forced to go abroad to gain necessary employment and experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16500/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There has been a growing demand for and investment in therapy services over the last number of years. A particular priority for my Department and the Department of Education and Science in recent years has been the expansion of the supply of physiotherapy graduates. Training places for physiotherapists have increased by 134% (from 64 to 150) while the number of physiotherapists employed in the public health service has risen by 130% (from 593 to 1,364) since 1997.

The provision of additional physiotherapy services through developments in a number of service areas has been prioritised in recent years. A number of additional physiotherapists will be employed as a result of additional funding provided for new developments in 2006 and 2007. Additional physiotherapists will be required, for example, for the extension of the home care package scheme, the development of primary care teams and networks and the enhancement of the level and range of multi-disciplinary support services in the disability sector. However, I am aware that a situation emerged whereby some 2006 physiotherapy graduates had difficulty in obtaining employment in the public health service. My Department, in conjunction with the HSE, undertook to address this situation in a proactive manner and made significant progress in creating employment opportunities for these graduates. In this regard, my Department is continuing to chair a working group comprising representatives from the HSE, the therapy managers and IMPACT. The Group has identified the contributing factors and has developed an action plan with a view to addressing these factors to minimise similar difficulties for 2007 graduates. The group is now working through prioritised actions and continues to make progress on several key actions.

I understand that the HSE is reviewing the current panel for basic grade physiotherapists with a view to establishing a new basic grade physiotherapy panel as soon as possible. As a result of the proactive approach taken by my Department and the HSE, I understand that a large majority of the 2006 graduates are now employed.