§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many speech therapists are employed by the education authorities;
(2) how many speech therapists are employed by education authorities speci- 62W fically for children with speech and language difficulties who are not classified as educationally subnormal.
§ Mr. Carter, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th April 1977; Vol. 929, c. 613], gave the following information:
No speech therapists are directly employed by education boards. At 31st March 1976, the most recent date for which figures are available, there were 46 speech therapists (full-time equivalents) employed by health and social services boards in Northern Ireland. This number is made up of 41 full-time and 18 part-time staff. Children with speech and language difficulties who are not classified as educationally subnormal attend speech therapists in health clinics or hospitals. Sessions given by the equivalent of six full-time speech therapists are also held in special schools for children with handicaps other than educational sub-normality.