Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for attending personally. This issue is topical. There have been interviews in recent days involving parents of children who are waiting for a bilateral cochlear implant. The debate has been passionate at times. I record the words of the mother of Anna Murphy, the little girl who featured on TV3's "Temple Street Children's Hospital" and "Ireland: AM" programmes last year following her cochlear implant surgery. Her mother contacted us and I sought permission to relay her words to the House. She said:

At present children in Ireland are implanted in one ear only, which, while fantastic that the child hears, is not acceptable as bilateral implants are recognised as international best standard. Ireland is one of the only countries limiting children to one implant. Beaumont Hospital has been begging for this funding since 2009 and the HSE acknowledged that this is best practice in its audiology report of 2009. However, after four years the HSE is still not funding bilateral implants and this is affecting 350 children in Ireland who time is running out for. These children have a window of three and five years between the first and second implant, including my daughter Anna. After this time the nerve dies and there is no hope of implantation.

We also heard from Julie Anne Cunneen who spoke passionately on behalf of her son, Liam. I realise that times are very difficult with the budgetary position that the Minister is faced with on a daily basis but we must act if we are to allow children to reach their full potential. By allowing only implantation we are compromising their ability to flourish and their ability to fulfil their ambitions and hopes and aspirations. I recognise that advances have been made and I realise there has been a meeting with the HSE chief operations officer, Laverne McGuinness, and some representatives of children who are waiting for the second implant. I urge for this to be made a priority and for the sequences needed to be set out to ensure the resources are in place following the appointment of Dr. Gary Norman as the national audiology clinical lead.

I realise that not much can be done between now and the Estimates for 2014 but at least a process could be put in place and the services could be nailed down. Then we could go ahead with the sequential implantation and simultaneous implantation for those who are born from here on. I urge the Minister to use this opportunity to put in place the necessary procedures. I realise there will be a significant drain on resources in Beaumont Hospital because it will have to play catch up with the sequential implantations but this change is necessary and time is not on the side of some of these children. If we are to allow them to have an opportunity in life to play their fullest and most meaningful role in society then surgery for a bilateral cochlear implant is a necessity. It complies with best international practice and this fact has been acknowledged by everyone concerned.

While people welcome the fact that one implant is provided at this stage most take the view we must proceed in the interests of giving children born with disadvantage and who will confront many obstacles a better service. Giving them one implant gives them hope but by giving them two it would give them opportunity. I hope the Minister can provide a positive response to the impassioned pleas of Julie Anne Cunneen, the mother of Liam, and the mother of little Anna who spoke passionately about the need to have this programme rolled out as quickly as possible.

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