Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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584. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the campaign of an organisation (details supplied) to establish a working group to develop a national hearing plan, as recommended by the World Health Organization; if he intends to establish such a group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61911/22]

Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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607. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recommendations of the World Health Organization in relation to the setting-up of a working group to develop a national hearing plan for Ireland; if this is under consideration by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61994/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 584 and 607 together.

The World Health Organisation’s World Report on Hearing published in March 2021 recommends, among other things, that governments develop a comprehensive people-centred hearing care plan within their national health care plan.

The National Audiology Review Group (NARG) Report, published by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2011, identified shortcomings in audiology services including access issues, poor information, inadequate staffing, and unacceptable waiting times and made recommendations to address these issues.

While many of these recommendations have been implemented, including the rollout in of a National Audiology Clinical Management system for community and acute services, there is still much work to do in relation to the community audiology waiting lists. These have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the HSE is actively looking at all options to increase activity and minimise patient wait times nationally.

The proposal to establish a working group to assist in developing an updated strategy that addresses the hearing needs of the Irish population is being considered by the Department.