HC Deb 28 October 1999 vol 336 c931W
Mr. McGrady

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure that the Down Lisburn Trust, Newry and Mourne Trust and Banbridge and Craigavon Trust recruit and train additional occupational therapists. [94460]

Mr. George Howarth

None. The levels of staff employed by HSS trusts in any professional discipline in Northern Ireland are directly related to the activity levels required by the commissioners of services. Unless commissioners deploy additional resources, HSS trusts are unable to pay for the services of additional staff.

So far as I am aware, there are presently no difficulties in recruiting Occupational Therapists in any of the trusts mentioned, and the number of training places at the University of Ulster has been increased from 36 places to 50 places per year since 1992.