To ask the Minister of Health what consideration he has given to reviewing and updating the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Workforce Review 2019 - 2029 to account for the recent increase in demand for access to SLT.

I remain committed to implementing the recommendations of the Speech and Language Therapy Workforce Review 2019 – 2029 which will require increasing the number of undergraduate training places commissioned each year by 12 to reach the recommendation of 40.

A budget for Northern Ireland Departments has not yet been set for 2024/25 and accordingly I am unable to make any commitment to expand commissioned places at this time. I will continue to make the case for this essential investment in our future workforce although I expect that the 2024/25 budget will be extremely challenging.

My Department’s Chief AHP Officer has begun the process of re-establishing the Advisory Committee for Allied Health Professions (ACAHP) a formal, Ministerially appointed advisory body. A workforce subcommittee will also be established to oversee implementation of completed AHP strategic workforce reviews and to consider how to address demands upon the Speech and Language Therapy workforce. Alternative routes to qualification, further development of recruitment/employment, and the commissioning of postgraduate education, training and skills development on a regional basis, will all be priorities.