Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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1268. To ask the Minister for Health the progress he has made in the establishment of a national hearing plan, as recommended by the World Health Organization. [63626/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The World Health Organization’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 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.

My Department is also engaging with the HSE on plans to further progress audiology services in Ireland. This includes consideration of whether a national hearing plan is needed to address the hearing needs of the Irish population.