Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that funding is made available for children who have a profound hearing impairment to receive the double cochlear implant procedure which is standard in other EU states including the NHS in the UK in view of the fact that there are around 350 children waiting for this procedure and at present they can only receive a single implant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5205/13]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider providing bilateral cochlear implants as recommended in the 2009 Audiology Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5329/13]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the number of people, on average, who receive cochlear implants each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5330/13]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the amount extra, on average, it would cost the State yearly to provide bilateral cochlear implants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5331/13]

Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to allow cochlear implants to be provided for children when profound deafness exists in both ears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5423/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 780, 800 to 802, inclusive, and 816 together.

I am advised that Beaumont Hospital carried out over ninety cochlear implants in 2012 and that over seven hundred patients are currently under the care of the hospital programme which provides rehabilitation and programming on a recurring basis. In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.