asked the Minister for Health if he will now permit local health authorities to supply hearing aids to persons in the lower income group for whom these appliances are prescribed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hearing Aids for Persons in Lower Income Group.
11.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given to a similar question by him on 18th May last. As was then indicated, hearing aids are provided by health authorities under the Health Acts mainly for the use of children in institutions for the deaf and in other suitable cases where there is an assurance that the child will be under continuing supervision to ensure the attainment of full benefit from the use of the aid.
I am unable to indicate when it may be possible to introduce a scheme applying generally to persons in the lower income group. Qualified insured persons are, of course, entitled to receive financial assistance towards the cost of hearing aids under the Department of Social Welfare's scheme of treatment benefits.
I take it that the Minister is aware of the considerable hardship which exists amongst medical card holders for whom hearing aids have been prescribed by dispensary doctors and where local health authorities are anxious to provide aids but cannot get the Minister's sanction in the matter?
Of course the Minister, like every other Minister, has to work within a budget and, at the moment, I have not the financial resources to do what the Deputy suggests.