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The focus of my research is the development of practices which support optimal, evidence based intervention and efficient service delivery for children and young people with speech language and communication needs. I am particularly interested in identifying how best use can be made of scarce resources in supporting children with SLCN: specifically in identification of those children who have persisting needs as opposed to protracted development, and in collaborations between parents, early years education, schools and speech and language therapy services to provide the most effective and efficient models of intervention and service delivery. I am currently using the data from the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal cohort to look at prevalence and persistence of speech and language difficulties at ages 3 and 5, as well as the number who accessed SLT services. I am a member of the SLCN@UL research group and the Health Research Institute, University of Limerick.I became a speech and language therapist in 2006, following an earlier career in data processing and logistics. After practising in paediatric community SLT services and a language class, and a temporary lecturing post, I took up a permanent post as Lecturer at the University of Limerick, where I teach in the areas of Linguistics, Phonetics and Developmental Speech Sound Disorders. I am currently Course Director for the MSc Speech and Language Therapy (Professional Qualification) Programme. As well as teaching, I contribute regularly to workshops and consultation providing professional development opportunities for speech and language therapists.From 2010-2013 I was Lead Partner for Ireland in the Network for Tuning Standards and Quality of Education programmes in Speech and Language Therapy (NETQUES) across Europe project.