Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This question is for the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. In respect of the Happy New Ear campaign group, what exactly will be taken into account in the business plan? For example, will the provision of special needs assistants in classrooms, who potentially would be required for people who did not receive such implants, be taken into account? Similarly, does it take into account how, as one parent told me, the school was obliged to buy additional audio equipment? Does it take into account every financial impact? How does the Minister of State think the Happy New Ear group will react to the fact it now appears as though nothing really will happen until the new year?

Is that the case? The business plan is due for completion in June. How will it take six months between the report being published and something being done about it? As has already been pointed out, time is of the essence. The longer some of these children must wait, the less successful the implants will be. When I first heard about this, it was amazing news that this invention even existed. It is really good news. It would be a shame that some children would be denied the right to get the best use of this invention.

I have another question which I do not know whether the Chairman will allow. I do not see this issue being dealt with at all. I refer to the €3.7 billion bill that the State faces every year due to alcohol abuse. There was a report published by former junior Minister, Deputy Róisín Shortall, which got a massive amount of media coverage.