HC Deb 12 May 2003 vol 405 cc121-2W
Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many NHS vacancies there are for speech therapists in Northern Ireland. [111803]

Mr. Browne

As at 30 September 2002 there were speech and language therapy vacancies amounting to a whole time equivalent (WTE) of 12.5. Speech and language therapy vacancies detailed by the Trust are given in the table.

Trust WTE1
Homefirst Community 5
North and West Belfast 2.5
Sperrin Lakeland 0
Armagh and Dungannon 2
Causeway 1
Mater Hospital 0

allocated a total of £6.6 million across the four Childcare Partnerships. Information regarding allocations to each district council area is not available. Details of Sure Start schemes funded through Childcare Partnerships in financial year 2002–03 are set out in Table 1 below:

Sure Start Scheme Childcare Partnership/ HSS Board Area
Inner City South Belfast Eastern
Inner City East Belfast Eastern
Shankill Eastern
Colin Eastern
Clan Mor (Falls) Eastern
Kids'n'Kin (Ardoyne/Oldpark) Eastern
Downpatrick Eastern
Lower Ards Peninsula Eastern
Newtownabbey Northern
Ballysally Northern
G-old (Cookstown) Northern
Close to Home (Dungannon) Southern
Clogher Valley Southern
Orana (Newry) Southern
Blossom (Portadown) Southern
Cherish (Irvinestown) Western
Dungiven Western
Creevagh/Springtown Western
Shantallow Western
LAST (Omagh) Western
Straband Western

Information on resources allocated by Boards and Trusts for Home Start schemes is also not available on a district council basis. Details of Home Start schemes supported by HSS Trusts in financial year 2002–03 are set out in Table 2 below.

Trust WTE1
United Hospitals Group 0
Craigavon and Banbridge 0
Altnagelvin 0
Foyle (including Westcare) 1
Royal Group of Hospitals 0
Belfast City Hospital 0
Newry and Mourne 0
Craigavon Area Hospital 0
Ulster Hospital 0
Green Park 1
South and East Belfast 0
Total 12.5
1 Whole time equivalent.

Note:

The above figures do not include vacancy numbers from Down Lisburn HSS Trust.

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