Hospital Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2006

Tuesday, 23 May 2006

Questions (108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118)

Marian Harkin

Question:

160 Ms Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there is a policy decision to introduce newborn hearing screening; if so, a time frame for the introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20037/06]

Marian Harkin

Question:

161 Ms Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has funding for newborn hearing screening included in the budget for the Health Service Executive. [20038/06]

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

162 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a policy decision has been made to introduce newborn hearing screening. [20042/06]

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

163 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has included funding for newborn hearing screening in the budget for the Health Service Executive. [20043/06]

John Cregan

Question:

164 Mr. Cregan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has a policy for the introduction of newborn hearing screening here; if her Department has included funding for newborn hearing screening in the budget for the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20080/06]

Liam Twomey

Question:

195 Dr. Twomey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to introduce hearing screening for all newborn babies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19303/06]

Joe Higgins

Question:

215 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has made a policy decision to introduce newborn hearing screening. [19491/06]

Joe Higgins

Question:

216 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has included funding for newborn hearing screening in the budget for the Health Service Executive. [19492/06]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

228 Mr. O’Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 195 of 9 May 2006, if she will address the concerns of the National Association for Deaf People (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19526/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

243 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a policy decision has been made to introduce hearing screening for newborn babies. [19753/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

244 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has included funding for newborn hearing screening in the Health Service Executive’s budget. [19754/06]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 to 164, inclusive, 195, 215, 216, 228, 243 and 244 together.

My Department has recently received a copy of the Report of the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Working Group and is in discussion with the Health Services Executive in relation to its implementation.