Mr. Brendan Lennon:

In fact, the procurement framework is not really an issue for the working group, as such. It is there in place. It just has not been activated. This is a matter for the Department and the HSE to work out. We did not put a precise number on this, but we did say that around 5% of those 10,000 children do have hearing loss and need some sort of audiological intervention. This is 500 children around the country who are impacted. We do not know who they are, but we must find out as soon as possible to ensure they can get the right support and their learning and development do not continue to be compromised. I have already alluded to how expensive it can be to deal with such situations and to people being so frustrated they have taken the State to the High Court for failures in audiology service provision.