Ms Laverne McGuinness:

On cochlear implants, a sum of €3.22 million has been provided in revenue funding and an additional €1 million has been provided in capital because there is a capital cost associated with the programme. The programme provides for two types of cochlear implant. The first is simultaneous, whereby children will have two cochlear implants placed at the same time. The second is sequential which will be provided for children who have one cochlear implant and would benefit from a second. In that vein, we met the consultants involved in the delivery of the programme. The figure provided is the maximum they will be able to spend this year. The programme will commence in May, with 50 children set to benefit from simultaneous cochlear implants. Under this element of the programme, 100 cochlear implants will be provided. In addition, commencing in August, another 50 children will benefit from sequential cochlear implants.

Commencing in August, another 50 children will benefit from sequential cochlear implants. There are approximately 300 children on the list to be assessed for these implants. It is the assessment of the consultants concerned that approximately 200 of these will progress, of whom 50 will commence on the programme from August onwards, with a further 150 to go forward for next year and the following years. That is the position on the cochlear implants programme. It will commence this year, with real progress starting in May.