Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Deputy Connaughton.

I am raising this matter from a degree of frustration with the Billy to Jack service being provided by the HSE and the Department of Health and Children with specific reference to a constituent of mine but it is a matter of general concern of which Deputy Connaughton and other colleagues also have experience.

My constituent was informed he would be fitted with a digital hearing aid in October 2005. He attended his son's wedding last weekend without having been fitted with a digital hearing aid. The HSE informed me on 1 December 2006 that it would be commencing the process of supplying digital hearing aids in early 2007. It is now one third of the way through 2007 and the digital hearing aids are only being supplied to children.

I accept this was the initial plan and I have no difficulty with prioritising children but I have a difficulty with the slow pace of delivery which extends to a year and a half for this gentleman. He has endured a poor quality of life because of his poor hearing. All he is asking for is a digital hearing aid. These appliances cost in the region of €1,300. I ask for a commitment from the Minister on the timescale within which those already assessed will be supplied with their hearing aids. This is a simple request and not something one would imagine would need to be raised on the floor of Dáil Éireann. However, because of the lack of response to date I had no other choice but to do so. I ask the Minister for a firm commitment as to when the people who have applied will receive their appliances.

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