Mr. Brendan Lennon:

There is one thing I wish to add which is connected to Deputy Brady's question on the other reasons people might delay in getting hearing aids. If it takes up to ten years for people in the UK to get them, it probably takes longer here in light of the numbers we have. Health professionals, particularly GPs, are key influencers in terms of promoting positive health and people seeking treatment. We are anecdotally aware that many GPs are reluctant to recommend that patients get their hearing checked. The patient may present as frustrated, anxious, depressed and fed up with life and hearing loss may be at the root of that, but the GP is more likely to give the patient tablets or some way of trying to deal with his or her emotional state even though the GP might suspect the patient needs to have his or her hearing checked. If the GP knows that the patient is on a low income and has very little prospect of coming up with the money to get hearing aids, it is understandable that he or she would be reluctant to place that kind of additional burden on the patient. We know that patients value the advice of GPs. Part of changing the culture, reducing the stigma and encouraging people to be proactive about their health and hearing is that if the grant were increased such that GPs knew that people were in a better position to access hearing aids, they would be more inclined to recommend that people take action.