Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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488. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his officials have reviewed the motion on personal assistance services for disabled persons which passed unanimously in Dáil Éireann on 19 November 2019; the measures that will be brought forward to progress these rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28223/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department has reviewed the motion mentioned in the Deputy's question.  As the Deputy is aware, the policy concerning personal assistance services is under the responsibility of the Minister for Health rather than myself, pending the transfer of responsibilities.

The HSE provides a range of assisted living services, including Personal Assistant (PA) services to support individuals to live independent lives. Significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services, and the Government has ensured that an additional €100 million is being provided for new disability measures this year under budget 2021. These measures will include an additional 40,000 personal assistant hours. The Programme for Government agreed to deliver further Personal Assistance hours to people with disabilities.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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489. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the services currently available for those who have hearing loss in particular but not exclusively, access to hearing aids and lip reading services; if there is a cost implication for the service user; the planned expansion of services for those with hearing loss; if he will address the lack of lip reader tutor training in order to increase the amount of lip reader tutors; the measures he is taking to increase the number of lip reading classes nationally and in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37402/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on these matters which are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.