Vol. 552 No. 1
375 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to Question No. 366 of 20 March 2002, his Department will make available the £600,000 (Stg) which the Eastern Regional Health Authority indicates will be the cost of providing BTE cochlear implants to the 120 people nationally who are waiting for them. [11731/02]
The Deputy will be aware from my reply of 20 March, that additional funding of €3.174 million has been allocated to the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, in 2002 to continue the development of national specialities in the region. The national cochlear implant programme at Beaumont Hospital is a designated national specialty. The detailed application of these additional moneys is being progressed by the ERHA in consultation with service providers, including Beaumont Hospital.
