Terence Flanagan
Question:558. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if funding will be allocated this year for bilateral cochlear implants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44583/13]
View answerTuesday, 22 October 2013
Questions (558, 565, 570, 578, 585)
Dan Neville
Question:565. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the allocation of funding for 2014 for bilateral cochlear implants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44609/13]
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Jack Wall
Question:570. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding for bilateral cochlear implants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44637/13]
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Maureen O'Sullivan
Question:578. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the policy of his Department on the potential benefits and value of a policy to support the fitting of bilateral both-ear implants for babies who have been discovered to be deaf; if he recognises that the bilateral both-ear implants could have a positive impact on speech perception, integration into mainstream education and general quality of life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44702/13]
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Michael Healy-Rae
Question:585. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if cochlear implants will be funded in budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44730/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 558, 565, 570, 578 and 585 together.
Beaumont Hospital is the centre for delivering Ireland’s national cochlear implant programme, with surgical provision for patients under six years being carried out in the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street. Since the programme commenced in 1995, over 700 patients have received cochlear implants. Beaumont Hospital carried out ninety cochlear implants in 2012 (42 children and 48 adults). The routine practice in Ireland, so far, has been to implant one side only.
It is now considered best practice worldwide that children should have the option of bilateral implants, and this is reflected in the recommendation of the report of the National Review of Audiology Services which was carried out by the HSE in 2009. The aim of that Review was to examine the services provided to children and adults nationwide, and to formulate a national plan for the services. Its report was published by the HSE in 2011 and provides the blueprint for the planning, development and delivery of HSE audiology services. The Report recommended continued ring-fenced support for the cochlear implant programme but at levels which allow for simultaneous bilateral implantation for children.
The HSE has developed a proposal, in liaison with Beaumont Hospital, to introduce a bilateral cochlear implant programme in Ireland. In doing so, the HSE has engaged with many stakeholders. Introduction of bilateral cochlear implantation is expected to involve additional staff, equipment and capital works. The resources required will be considered in the context of the Health Estimate for 2014, announced on 15 October last, and the development of the HSE's National Service Plan 2014.