The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kenmare kids to finally get acess to speech therapist
July 1995
TWENTY Kenmare children, who were once forced to travel a round trip of 40 miles to receive speech therapy in Killarney have been given their own speech therapist by the Southern Health Board.
The Kerryman has learned that the Southern Health Board has allocated a speech therapist, to Kenmare to cater for the town and its surrounding areas.
The speech therapist works from Kenmare every Tuesday from 11am to 4pm.
The allocation of the speech, therapist follows calls by South Kerry Fianna Fail Deputy John O’Donoghue, and Kerry County
Council Chairman Jackie HealyRae for an adequate service to be provided in Kenmare to service a catchment area of Lauragh, Tuosist, Sneem, Bonane and Kilgarvan.
Deputy O’Donoghue said that there has always ‘been a vacuum in the speech therapy service in the Kenmare area and said the problem needed to be addressed urgently.
“I am extremely pleased that at last the Southern Health Board has heeded my demands. A speech therapy service in the area was badly needed. In my view, it was neglectful of the Southern Health Board not to provide a service in the area until now.” he said.
He said the lack of a speech therapist in, the area was a source of great concern and expense to the people involved, who had to travel to Killarney to avail of the service.
It is understood that there are 20 children from Kenmare and its hinterland attending the speech therapist on a weekly basis.
The Southern Health Board operates its speech therapy base clinic in Tralee with satellite clinics in Killarney, Listowel, Cahersiveen and Dingle.
Kerry County Council Chairman Jackie Healy Rae said he and the people living in Kenmare and the surrounding areas were delighted at the appointment of a speech therapist in their area.
He added that while there are currently 20 children using the service now in Kenmare, more and more will start using it as it is so local.
“There were 20 children who used to travel to Killarney for the service but as soon as it was announced that there is a service in Kenmare, more and more people will start to use it,” he said.
He added that the Southern Health, Board should have recognised that there are people In South Kerry who do not have motor cars.
There are people living in isolated areas who have no access to transport. They could not travel to Killarney in the past but they will be able to avail of the service now that it is in Kenmare,” he said.