Physiotherapy Mrs. Iris Robinson To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people graduated in Northern Ireland in physiotherapy in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these (a) are and (b) are not employed in full-time permanent physiotherapy posts in Northern Ireland. Paul Goggins The number of physiotherapy student who graduated in Northern Ireland in the last 10 years is presented as follows: ------------------------------------------------- | |Number of graduates| ------------------------------------------------- |2005-06 |72 | ------------------------------------------------- |2004-05 |58 | ------------------------------------------------- |2003-04 |63 | ------------------------------------------------- |2002-03 |61 | ------------------------------------------------- |2001-02 |58 | ------------------------------------------------- |2000-01 |61 | ------------------------------------------------- |1999-2000 |56 | ------------------------------------------------- |1998-99 |66 | ------------------------------------------------- |1997-98 |68 | ------------------------------------------------- |1996-97 |62 | ------------------------------------------------- |Source:University of Ulster| | ------------------------------------------------- The number of physiotherapy entrants into permanent and temporary posts within the HPSS in Northern Ireland is presented in the following table. The Department is unable to distinguish if these posts were filled by newly qualified graduates as the data is not held in this format. The Department is unable to supply information relating to private sector employment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |As at March: |Permanent|Temporary|Total| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2005-06 |34 |35 |69 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2004-05 |43 |18 |61 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2003-04 |45 |25 |70 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2002-03 |35 |26 |61 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2001-02 |40 |13 |53 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2000-01 |31 |07 |38 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1999-2000 |36 |14 |50 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1998-99 |29 |14 |43 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1997-98 |25 |20 |45 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1996-97 |30 |13 |43 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Notes:Joiners figures may include: new graduates, staff transferring from private sector, staff from other countries, or staff returning after a period of unpaid leave.Source:Human Resources Management System| | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mrs. Iris Robinson To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of training a physiotherapist. Paul Goggins The current estimated cost of training a physiotherapy student is approximately £35,000. This figure includes university tuition fees, student bursary support and student placement costs.