Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Health when he will publish legislation to abolish the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32992/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to the Health Service Executive ceasing to exist over time. This will require detailed planning and legislation to abolish the Health Service Executive is likely to be brought forward on a sequential basis, as part of the overall reform programme, with the Executive's functions transferring elsewhere or being taken over by the Universal Health Insurance system. In the meantime, however, I intend to bring legislative proposals to Government to abolish the Board structure in the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and to provide for replacement governance structures and enhanced accountability arrangements.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Health if will implement the recommendations of the National Audiology Review Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32961/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The report of the HSE National Audiology Review Group was published in April 2011.

The Group has developed a comprehensive set of recommendations to address the inconsistencies and inadequacies in audiology services. Recommendations currently being pursued include the following. A group is carrying out an urgent workforce planning review for audiology. This group is due to complete its work this month. The HSE has sponsored ten candidates to complete an M.Sc. 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 in 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.

The implementation of other recommendations is in planning, including: appointment of National Clinical Leads and a National Project Manager to lead implementation of the recommendations; Development of a national and regional Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Service; Development of an Irish Clinical Competence Programme to support the MSc in Audiology Graduates; Revised Tender for Hearing Aids, Moulds and Accessories; Revised Tendering for Equipping.

The HSE is committed to the implementation of the report recommendations on a phased basis over the next number of years.