Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 April 2006
160 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will introduce a hearing screen service for all newborn babies; and if she will support the National Association for Deaf People on this issue. [13915/06]
View answer161 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will introduce a national hearing screening programme for all newborn babies in view of the fact that the failure to introduce this screening is causing serious lifelong disadvantage to deaf children arising from late diagnosis of deafness and consequent delay in receiving essential support services and in further view of the fact that universal newborn hearing screening is the accepted standard in all developed countries. [13948/06]
View answer162 Dr. Cowley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the introduction of hearing screening for all newborn babies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13984/06]
View answer173 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce hearing screening for all newborn babies; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the delay in introducing this screening is causing lifelong disadvantage to deaf children. [13659/06]
View answer174 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will introduce a hearing screening programme for all newborn babies in accordance with the accepted standard of care in all developed countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13672/06]
View answer176 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on correspondence (details supplied); her plans to deal with the proposal; the cost to the Exchequer if such a proposal was agreed; the number of hospitals that the proposal would apply to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13715/06]
View answer177 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason her Department has not introduced hearing screening for all newborn babies; the plans she has to introduce such a programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13721/06]
View answer180 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on putting arrangements in place to introduce hearing screening for all newborn babies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13726/06]
View answer181 Mr. Carey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if consideration has been given by her Department to the introduction of hearing screening for a newborn babies, either hospital based or community bases, as this is the accepted standard of care in all developed countries and as it is stated that such a screening programme pays for itself in less than four years by reducing future costs of deafness to the State (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13727/06]
View answer183 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her proposals to introduce hearing screening for all newborn babies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13739/06]
View answer191 Mr. Curran asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce a hearing screening for newborn babies as proposed by the National Association for Deaf People and as is normal in many other countries; if she intends to introduce such a national screening programme; and the timeframe for implementation. [13781/06]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 160 to 162, inclusive, 173, 174, 176, 177, 180, 181, 183 and 191 together.
The Deputies' questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputies.
