Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health the reason bilateral cochlear implants are not funded in this State; if he will acknowledge the significant benefits of this procedure in comparison to unilateral implants; if he will address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7458/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Beaumont Hospital is the centre for delivering Ireland’s national cochlear implant programme with surgical provision for patients under six (6) years carried out in the Children’s University Hospital at Temple Street. Since the programme commenced seventeen years ago, over 700 patients have received cochlear implants. I am advised that Beaumont Hospital carried out ninety cochlear implants in 2012.

In 2009 the 2009 the UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation as best practice for children. No dedicated programme for simultaneous or sequential implantation is being carried out in Ireland at this time. However, some bilateral implantation has already occurred for patients, mainly very young children with certain medical conditions such as a history of meningitis or blindness.

I understand that Beaumont Hospital, HSE Management and the HSE’s Audiology Clinical Care Programme (ACCP) have met recently to discuss a joint process to identify the options for developing and resourcing a programme of simultaneous cochlear implantation in children into the future. An important element of this will be the development of clear clinical criteria to prioritise clients for assessment and follow on implantation.