Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 4

Written Answers - Hearing Impairment Claims.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

62 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Defence the progress, if any, his Department has made in arriving at an agreed method of assessing hearing handicap in relation to claims made against his Department by serving and former members of the Defence Forces regarding hearing impairment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18184/97]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I understand that a group of experts, including ear, nose and throat consultants and an audiologist, has been set up by the Department of Health and has been given the task of developing a method of assessing hearing handicap resulting from hearing loss or impairment. It is hoped that the group will report at the end of this year or early next year.