asked the Minister for Health what progress, if any, has been made towards the provision of hearing aids, free of charge, to necessitous persons, including old-age pensioners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Hearing Aids.
7.
I presume that the Deputy has in mind the hearing aid service being organised by the National Organisation for Rehabilitation to which I referred during the debate on the Vote for Health on the 10th April 1962.
The Organisation have been in close contact with my Department in the matter. Arrangements are well advanced for the recruitment of staff for the hearing aid centre which it is proposed to open at the Organisation's headquarters at Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin. The ground floor of these premises is being adapted and equipped and it is hoped to inaugurate the service early next year.
It has been necessary to restrict the supply of hearing aids by health authorities to eligible persons but when this new service gets into its stride these restrictions will be eased and it should be possible to meet demands from health authorities for hearing aids for eligible persons, including persons eligible for aural services, free of charge, under Section 14 of the Health Act, 1953. The majority of persons in receipt of non-contributory old age pensions under the Social Welfare Acts would be in this category.