Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 April 2017
237. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection his views regarding the fact that private hearing aid companies are unregulated in the State in view of the fact that grants for the purchase of hearing aids are made available to these companies through the PRSI system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16881/17]
View answerThe treatment benefit scheme provides for a contribution towards the purchase of medical appliances, such as hearing aids. In 2016 some 9,500 people benefitted from this element of the scheme, at a cost of over €7.5m.
The scheme currently has over 100 providers, who are required to operate under the terms of their contractual agreement with the Department. This contract covers the qualification of persons providing the service, the scope of the examination provided and the resolution process in event of a dispute or complaint from a customer.
The HSE, who also supply a large number of devices under their corresponding medical card scheme, has convened a group of stakeholders who are working on developing agreed standards in relation to the provision of hearing aids. The group has representatives from the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (ISHAA), the Irish Academy of Audiology (IAA) and DeafHear (who advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing in Ireland), working along with the HSE on developing standards. The group are currently finalising best practice guidelines to ensure a code of practice code is in situ for the profession in Ireland.
The Department welcomes the development of agreed guidelines for the provision of hearing aids; such guidelines will make a significant contribution to the provision of consistent clinical practice and service delivery to the Department’s customers.
