Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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190. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have received funding for hearing aids; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20008/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Records on the number of people who have received funding for hearing aids since the treatment benefit scheme commenced, over 40 years ago, are not available. However in 2014, 7,085 people received funding for hearing aids and a further 2,292 people have received funding in the current year to date.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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191. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have received funding for hearing aids, and have listed blindness as an additional disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20009/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The statistics requested are not available, such information is not requested from applicants as it is not relevant to the scheme. Entitlement to the hearing aid grant is based on a requirement for a hearing aid and having paid the required PRSI contributions.