Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has received the results of a pilot study on the use of digital hearing aids; if she has assessed the findings; and if she has set out a policy framework for the health service for which it is appropriate to provide this technology to clients of the service. [9860/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, HSE, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for audiology services.

The former Eastern Regional Health Authority conducted a pilot project to evaluate the appropriateness of introducing digital and digitally programmable hearing aids into the community audiology service. The project commenced in 2001 and a final report was produced in 2003. Staff training was provided as part of the pilot project; digital and digitally programmable hearing aids were issued to a selected number of people with hearing loss. In 2003, digitally programmable hearing aids were introduced in the former health boards and continue to be supplied by the community audiology service.

The report on the pilot project concluded that in order to introduce digital hearing aids into the community audiology service, a number of factors need to be considered. All staff engaged in hearing aid fitting would require training and updating in order to use the new technology. Appropriate technology would have to be provided to staff in order to carry out the correct programming of hearing aids. In addition, in the event of new technology being introduced, hearing aid fitting appointments would be more prolonged than at present with the possibility of longer waiting times.

My Department has been informed by the HSE that a tendering process for the supply of hearing aids, both analogue and digital, has just been completed by the national audiology service. The Department has been further informed that staff are currently being trained to work with the new hearing aids.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 76: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has received correspondence from the Children's Leukaemia Association outlining concern at the imminent retirement of a consultant haematologist, specialising in child haematology, and the lack of an appropriate response from the outgoing Southern Health Board or the newly established Health Service Executive, southern region, to ensure a direct and immediate replacement for this position; if she has responded to this correspondence; and the action she will take to ensure that there is not a diminution of service in this area. [9861/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have received the correspondence referred to by the Deputy and I will reply to the association shortly.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the issues raised by the Deputy. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer of the southern area of the executive to investigate the matters raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 77: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the review of the operation of Carmichael centre has been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9871/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The review of Carmichael centre has been completed by a consultant engaged by the Health Service Executive, eastern regional area. However, the report of the review has not yet been completed, pending the receipt of outstanding information from Carmichael centre.

John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 78: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the situation in relation to the granting and supply of home care packages in each region of the HSE; the approximate number of such packages in each region; if clarification on the granting of future packages will be given; if there is a list of approved but waiting cases in each region; the reason the home care package for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, approved as maximum dependency, has not commenced; and when same will commence. [9887/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Home care grant schemes have been piloted by the Health Services Executive in a number of areas. The purpose of these schemes is to support older people at home as an alternative to long-term residential care. Older people who are discharged from the acute hospital system and those living in the community have been targeted under these schemes.

The Department has been working with the HSE to develop a national home care grant scheme. A draft of the scheme is currently being finalised by the HSE. Funding of €2 million has been allocated to the HSE in 2005 to introduce the scheme. Funding of €113.75 million was allocated in 2004 to the home help service to support older people living in the community. This funding was increased to €118.75 million in 2005.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the operation of the home care grant scheme. Accordingly, my Department has requested the national director of primary, community and continuing care of the HSE to investigate the matters raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

On the specific case referred to by the Deputy, my Department has asked the chief officer for the executive's southern area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.