Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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276. To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date on regulating both individual audiologists and private companies that sell hearing aids; his views regarding the likely date for such regulation to come into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16957/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The professions of audiologist and hearing aid audiologist are not included in the 14 professions currently designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.

The Act provides that the Minister for Health may, following a consultation process and with the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas, make regulations designating a health or social care profession not already designated if the Minister considers it in the public interest to do so and if certain specified criteria have been met.

My Department is proposing, towards the end of this year or early next year, when all registration boards have been established, to ask the Health and Social Care Professionals Council to undertake a risk assessment, in terms of public protection, of the principal health and social care professions seeking designation under the Act and to make recommendations concerning options for their possible future regulation. The question of designating the professions of audiologist and hearing aid audiologist will be considered as part of that process.

My Department has no role in the regulation of private companies that sell hearing aids.