Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 1

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Noel Ahern

Question:

388 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children regarding the scheme for free hearing aids to pensioners on medical cards; the agency which controls same in the Dublin area; if only one agency is involved; his views on whether the time taken to process an application is acceptable; if a system for prioritising compassionate cases exists; and if so, the details in this regard. [11849/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The provision of community audiology services is a matter in the first instance for the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, and the health boards.

Under the Health Acts, hearing aids are provided free of charge to adult medical card holders over the age of 16 years who require them. Following the dissolution of the National Rehabilitation Board in June 2000, the responsibility for the provision of community audiology services throughout the regions was assigned initially to the Northern Area Health Board, NAHB, of the ERHA pending each health board taking over direct responsibility for the services within its own region. The service is currently managed from 44 North Great George's Street, Dublin 1, telephone [phone].

The chief executive officer of the ERHA has informed me that the current average waiting time between referral and fitting with a hearing aid is approximately five months for adults. The service is being monitored by the general manager responsible for the community audiology service to ensure that services are at a satisfactory level and to identify early any gaps in services that may emerge. My Department has provided additional funding of €0.461million in 2002 for the service. In addition, the health boards are sponsoring the training of clinical staff for the community audiology service and this, coupled with the employment by the NAHB of additional sessional staff from Northern Ireland, will positively impact on service provision.

Adults are treated in accordance with their medical need and their position on the waiting list. In addition, the NAHB operate a system of prioritisation in the case of children with certain medical conditions.

Noel Ahern

Question:

389 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children when the health boards were advised that no one should lose or be deprived of a medical card solely due to budget social welfare increases; the persons advised in the Dublin area; if it was the Eastern Regional Health Authority or individual boards; if a copy of the letter to the Eastern Regional Health Authority or Northern Area Health Board can be provided; if his Department has proof the letter was received as health board staff do not seem aware of this decision; if his Department's letter was a request or instruction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11850/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

My Department wrote to Mr. Paul Robinson, chief executive officer of the North-Eastern Health Board in his capacity as chairman of the Health Board Chief Executive Officers Group on the 24 of January, 2002 requesting that medical card holders should not lose their cards because of increases in social welfare rates announced in the budget. In addition my Department again wrote to Mr. Robinson on 6 February, 2002 requesting that every effort be made to ensure that both medical card holders and applicants are made fully aware that increases in social welfare payments will not disadvantage them when applying to hold or retain a medical card. In response, the chief executive officers confirmed that social welfare recipients would not be disadvantaged.

With regard to making staff aware of the chief executive officers' decision within health boards, this is an operational matter for the chief executive officers. Accordingly, I have had the matter referred to Mr. Donal O'Shea, regional chief executive officer of the ERHA asking him to reply to you directly on this matter.