IASLT Statement on the announcement of trade union action to address staffing issues in the HSE

Date of statement: 11th March 2025.

Fórsa and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation served notice of industrial action to the HSE on Monday 10^th March 2025 in the dispute over the effect of the HSE’s ‘Pay and Numbers Strategy’ which imposed a fixed employment ceiling across all health services, in addition to suppressing all posts that were vacant on the 31^st December 2023.

The Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT) has been highlighting the recruitment and retention crisis within the speech and language therapy profession, particularly with the embargo in 2023 and the damage caused by the implementation of the pay and numbers strategy.

Safe Staffing Now Campaign: November 2024: IASLT Advocacy | Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists

IASLT Statement: Recruitment concerns associated with HSE Pay and Numbers Strategy: October 2024:  IASLT Advocacy | Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists

Recruitment embargo threatens Patients and Professions warns Health and Social Care Professions Alliance (HSCPA); April 2024: IASLT Advocacy | Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists

IASLT Statement on Recruitment: November 2023: IASLT Advocacy | Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists

Failure to provide speech and language therapy risks isolating people, can adversely impact on educational outcomes, employment prospects and risks damaging health and well being.

Speech and Language Therapists are central to the provision of safe, value for money healthcare and supporting the delivery of HSE Slaintecare priorities.

It is unacceptable that speech and language therapy posts have been left vacant or have been essentially abolished by the HSE. The implications for the speech and language therapy profession and people that we work with are wide ranging. Staffing levels are unsafe, services are being restricted and have been suspended due to this pay and numbers strategy.

IASLT stands firm in its belief that the current Pay and Numbers strategy is detrimental to the overall health service and to the people that we serve. We support our members who are members of FÓRSA in their forthcoming industrial action.