Understanding the Growing Demand for Speech and Language Therapy in Ireland - A Future-Proof Career Path

Across Ireland, the demand for Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) has never been more visible or more urgent.

Almost 20,000 children across Ireland are waiting for an initial speech and language assessment.

Thousands more are waiting for essential interventions that support communication, social development, education, and long-term wellbeing.

These unmet needs present not only a national healthcare challenge but also a significant opportunity for highly trained speech and language therapists to make an immediate and lasting impact.

Recent data from the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, in response to a Parliamentary Question from Sorca Clarke TD in November 2025, highlights the scale of the challenge and the critical need for a stronger SLT workforce.

This data below is from the end of September 2025 and can be accessed in full here.

It is important to note that this article refers only to the needs of children in Ireland seeking speech and language therapists for various reasons, however SLTs also work with adults in a number of settings including but not limited to those with conditions such as autism, cleft palate, hearing impairment, stammering, and stroke.

What the Latest National Waiting-List Data Tells Us

In September 2025, the Minister outlined the following:

1. Children Waiting for an Initial Speech and Language Assessment

• National total: 19,632 children

• Highest regional figures:

  • 5,322 in HSE Dublin & Midlands

  • 6,042 in HSE Dublin & North East

An initial assessment is the gateway to identifying communication needs and beginning intervention. Nearly 20,000 children remain in limbo at this foundational stage.

2. Children Waiting for Initial Therapy

• National total: 6,715 children

• Highest regional figures:

  • 2,276 in HSE Dublin & North East

  • 1,982 in HSE South West

These numbers represent children who have been assessed and are now waiting to begin therapy - a crucial period in early development when delays can have long-term educational and social consequences.

3. Children Waiting for Further Therapy

• National total: 10,158 children

• Highest regional figures:

  • 3,052 in HSE South West

  • 2,665 in HSE Dublin & North East

These children require ongoing intervention, yet large regional bottlenecks prevent consistent progress and continuity of care.

An Important Note About the Data

These waiting lists only cover primary care services. They do not include children awaiting services on Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs).

Additionally, children do not need an Assessment of Need under the Disability Act (2005) to access primary care services - meaning the true national demand for SLT is significantly higher than even these figures suggest.

What This Means for Ireland’s Healthcare System

The data paints a clear picture: demand for speech and language therapy services is growing and outstripping current capacity across the country.

Several key factors contribute to this pressure:

• Increasing rates of autism diagnoses and communication-related developmental concerns

• Growing population of children aged 0–17

• Staffing and recruitment challenges

• Regional disparities in service availability

• High demand for early intervention and school-based support services

The result is a healthcare system where thousands of children are not receiving timely, essential support and where skilled speech and language therapists are urgently needed.

Why Now is an Important Time to Train as a Speech and Language Therapist

With national waiting lists for children in the tens of thousands and rising, the need for qualified SLTs is immediate, sustained, and long-term. This presents a powerful opportunity for graduates entering the profession.

1. You Will Make a Meaningful Impact

Children waiting for assessment or therapy are at critical stages of development. Every SLT who enters the workforce has the potential to change the trajectory of a child’s education, communication, independence, and quality of life.

2. There Is Abundant Career Opportunity

Demand exists across:

• HSE primary care services

• Children’s Disability Network Teams

• Hospitals and acute care

• Early intervention and preschool supports

• Schools and specialist education settings

• Private practice

• Research, academia, and service development

Ireland’s growing population and ongoing reform of disability and community care services means career pathways are expanding rather than contracting.

3. You Will Contribute to Future Healthcare Improvement

The shortage of SLTs is not simply a staffing issue, it is a public health challenge. Training as an SLT today positions you as part of the solution, helping to reduce waiting lists and create better outcomes for children and families across the country.

How Portobello Institute Is Meeting This National Need

Portobello Institute’s MSc in Speech and Language Therapy is a new programme, launching in January 2026, it equips students with the knowledge and practical experience to become a highly skilled, evidence-based speech and language therapist.

The course has been designed to meet this urgent skills gap with a programme that prepares graduates to enter a profession in high demand. The programme provides:

• A pathway for those seeking a career change into healthcare

• A curriculum aligned with professional and regulatory standards

• Clinical and practical experience to build real-world competence

• Opportunities to progress into clinical practice, service improvement, research, and leadership roles

Graduates finish with the qualifications, confidence, and clinical readiness to join a profession where they can make an immediate difference.

Be Part of a Profession That Changes Lives

The current national waiting lists tell a compelling story: Ireland needs more speech and language therapists. Families need support. Children need timely, effective intervention. The healthcare system needs passionate, well-trained professionals ready to respond to this growing demand.

For those considering a meaningful, future-proof healthcare career, Speech and Language Therapy is both a vital public service and a profession filled with opportunity.

Portobello Institute is now enrolling for our 2026 intakes for a limited time. Please visit our course page to apply or book a call with an advisor.

Find out more about the course here.