Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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442. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 584 of 13 December 2022, if his Department is still considering a proposal to establish a working group to assist in developing an updated strategy that addresses the hearing needs of the Irish population; the timeline he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6024/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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 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 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 proposal to establish a working group, comprised of relevant stakeholders, to assist in developing such a plan for Ireland is still being considered by the Department. In the meantime, the Department continues to liaise with the HSE to improve health outcomes for all those suffering from hearing loss.