Marian Harkin
Question:275 Ms Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to ensure adequate training for existing staff to enable a roll-out of digital hearing aids to clients nationwide. [5148/06]
View answerTuesday, 14 February 2006
Questions (223, 224, 225)
Marian Harkin
Question:276 Ms Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to recruit the necessary extra staff that will be required to ensure an effective service in the allocation and ongoing monitoring of digital hearing aids to clients nationwide. [5149/06]
View answerMarian Harkin
Question:277 Ms Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to set up a training facility here for audiologists. [5150/06]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 to 277, inclusive, together.
There are no plans at present to set up a training facility here for audiologists.
The Deputy may wish to note the large increase in the number of audiologists employed in the public health system in the past decade. The relevant numbers are set out in the following tables.
|
Health Service Executive — Area |
31/12/1997 |
30/09/2005 |
Increase |
% Increase |
|
Eastern |
3.2 |
17.2 |
14.0 |
|
|
Midland |
1.0 |
4.5 |
3.5 |
|
|
Mid-Western |
0.0 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
|
|
North-Eastern |
0.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
|
|
North-Western |
1.9 |
8.0 |
6.1 |
|
|
South-Eastern |
1.0 |
7.2 |
6.2 |
|
|
Southern |
1.6 |
6.2 |
4.6 |
|
|
Western |
2.0 |
5.4 |
3.4 |
|
|
Total |
10.7 |
54.4 |
43.7 |
410% |
|
Grade |
31/12/1997 |
30/09/2005 |
Increase |
% Increase |
|
Audiological Scientist |
3.99 |
|||
|
Audiological Scientist, Senior |
2 |
|||
|
Audiologist |
10.66 |
20.76 |
||
|
Audiologist, Chief |
12.82 |
|||
|
Audiologist, Senior |
14.8 |
|||
|
Total |
10.66 |
54.37 |
43.71 |
410% |
Source: Health Service Personnel Census