David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I welcome the additional funding the Minister outlined. One of the key recommendations made in the audiology report concerned the implementation of a national newborn hearing screening programme. If such a programme is due to be rolled out, I welcome it.

A final point the Minister might convey to the Minister for Health concerns the need for the appointment of a national clinical lead for audiology services and a regional clinical lead in each of the four HSE regions. That must take place to give real effect to the recommendations made in the report which must be implemented. I welcome the additional funding made available. The Government is obliged to deal with real problems which were not of its making; therefore, I welcome the fact that inroads are being made and that there is a move to address the problems in the health service.