Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health the efforts being made to reduce the extensive waiting times associated with audiology services in the public health system; his views on the use of the National Treatment Purchase Fund to allow those on waiting lists for extensive periods of time to seek appointments privately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29003/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The report of the National Audiology Review Group was published in April 2011. The HSE is currently pursuing a number of recommendations that will have a direct impact on waiting lists for audiology services:

- A group is carrying out an urgent workforce planning review for audiology. This group is due to complete its work by November 2011.

- The HSE has sponsored ten candidates to complete an MSc in Audiology. The graduates will be ready to commence work in September 2013.

- Newborn hearing screening is currently being provided in Cork University Hospital with a view to identifying congenital hearing impairment at a very early stage and will be rolled out in the remainder of the HSE South by year end. The programme will be rolled out in all other regions by mid 2012.

- Each HSE Region is currently in the process of validating its waiting list and evaluating methods to reduce waiting times.

- Consultation has commenced within the HSE in order to establish a unified patient management system for audiology. This will manage all scheduling and waiting lists.

There is a commitment in the Programme for Government, to tackle waiting times in our health system. The Government believes that, despite our economic circumstances, there is scope for real and sustainable improvement in waiting times for patients, provided we put the proper information management systems in place and there is real accountability for delivering the improvements. On 2June, the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) was established. The core SDU team in the Department of Health works with closely associated teams from the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund. As part of that work, the SDU is establishing an infrastructure based on information collection and analysis, hospital by hospital.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the future of the rehabilitation unit at a care centre (details supplied) in County Westmeath, which is already subject to restricted admissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29030/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.