Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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79. To ask the Minister for Health the reason, after at least 15 meetings of the hearing care plan working group, and meetings by subgroups, a report has still not been issued and has been delayed by over six months into a projected timeline of quarter 1 of 2026; the way in which the scope of the work could have expanded way beyond initial expectations, as stated in responses to previous questions; the commencement date and timeline of the related public consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64788/25]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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There have been at least 16 meetings of the hearing care plan working group and meetings of subgroups but a report still has not been issued and has now been delayed by over six months into a projected timeline of quarter 1 of next year. Will the Minister outline why the scope has expanded so much beyond initial expectations? Will she confirm a commencement date and a timeline for the related public consultation?

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The hearing care plan working group was established to develop recommendations for a holistic and sustainable model of hearing care across Ireland. The group initially had a focus on the appropriate linkage of public and private provision to meet increasing demand for services in the short term and to consider the recommendations of the WHO World Report on Hearing in the development of the national hearing care plan.

As the group carried out its work, it realised, through its research efforts and deliberations, that the scope of the work needed to create a holistic model of care, as mandated by the published terms of reference, was greater than initially anticipated. The group saw that as an opportunity to ensure that every aspect of the national audiology service was being addressed thoroughly and, as such, the deadline needed to be pushed back.

While it is unfortunate that the final recommendations are delayed, as per the terms of reference, the group, I believe, will now be in a position to deliver a much more comprehensive and encompassing plan that factors in all aspects of the audiology space and ensures that patients will receive a greater benefit as a result. In response, the group has adjusted its focus and timelines to ensure that all relevant areas of hearing care are appropriately considered. A structured work stream has been established to support this goal, comprising a number of subgroups focusing on key priorities within the overall scope of the project.

The areas being examined by the group include: the existing level and distribution of hearing care provision across Ireland; capacity constraints and opportunities for service enhancement within the HSE; examining the current education structures in place to ensure an adequate number of graduates in public audiology services; workforce planning, with a particular focus on improving recruitment and retention within the public system; the appropriate level and framework for regulation for the audiology profession; improvements to referral pathways in the integration of services between acute and community settings; and mechanisms to strengthen linkages between public and private hearing care aimed at improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting time.

It is wide-ranging work and it is the intention of the group to ensure the final report is comprehensive in the treatment of those matters.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The Minister mentioned things like workforce planning and obviously there are other issues like paediatric screening, adult rehabilitation pathways and integration with primary care. Can the Minister give any timeline for the public consultation? Will it definitely be in quarter 1 of next year? This arose back in August of last year when the then Minister, Stephen Donnelly, was basically implementing WHO recommendations on providing an holistic package of hearing services. I take the Minister's point and I welcome the fact that the scope has broadened to look at different things. However, has there been discussion of the regulation of the audiology profession? If that has been done, does it include the stakeholders on it? Has best practice abroad been looked at? If not, we are asking people to talk about their own industry.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is right to identify the difficulty that would create. I do not have an answer at the moment as to the timeline of the public consultation, but I commit to getting that to the Deputy as soon as I can. The revised timeline for submission of a final report is quarter 1 in 2026 but that is more about the timeline for the broad work, as I understand it. Today or tomorrow, I will have a better answer for the Deputy on his very reasonable question on the public consultation element of it. I will also have clarity for him on the question of people reporting on themselves and making sure there is sufficient independence to be able to analyse what needs to be done, particularly on the regulation of professions.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I know the Minister would be kept up to date on the reports of the subgroups and as she mentioned there have been 16 of them so far and there will be a few more before we get the final report. Can she focus in some way on getting to monitor the specialists? Is there any scope to bring in experts from Northern Ireland, Scotland or England as part of one of the subgroups or is this already happening? This area is not a very well covered nationally but it is hugely important. Hearing loss is a major issue in Ireland and there is a certain stigma associated with it, which is why the WHO made recommendations about having an holistic policy in the first place. I welcome the Minister's response and hopefully we will get to the consultation stage soon.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I would like to have a bit more detail that I do not have to hand but I commit to getting it to the Deputy today or tomorrow if that is all right.