Cochlear implant group take campaign to the Dail

A GROUP of parents campaigning for the rollout of bilateral cochlear implants for their children delivered a petition with 3,200 signatures to the Dail last week.

Members of the Happy New Ear campaign repeated their call on Health Minister James Reilly to provide two cochlear implants to Irish deaf children in 2014.

A joint Oireachtas committee comprising 17 TDs and senators met with parents Amie Connor and Danielle Ryan. A number of politicians who were unable to make the meeting sent representatives to express their support for the campaign. Ms Ryan said they were delighted to be part of the committee.

The meeting was chaired by Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams TD.

Lorraine Murphy, a member of the campaign group, noted that Minister Reilly discussed the issue of bilateral cochlear implants at a Joint Committee on Health meeting last week.

“We were delighted to see him deal with the issue effectively live on TV,

? she said.

“We are now happy this matter is getting due attention from the Minister. We will keep campaigning but feel very positive today.

?

Deanna Kearns, who is also a member of the campaign, said parents were further encouraged by the outcome of a meeting with Minister for State at the Department of Health, Kathleen Lynch.

“We felt that Minister Lynch listened to us and had a good understanding of our plight,

? she told Northside People.

“There were no commitments but we were happy that progress was made.

?

Denise Martin of the Happy New Ear campaign added:

“We are so encouraged by today’s meeting and hopefully the Minister will see that all we want is to be the voices for our children until they get their own. Then, one day, they can say thanks for themselves.

?

Speaking after the meeting, Gerry Adams said:

“Good progress has been made recently and a business proposal to provide bilateral cochlear implants will be presented to the Minister by Beaumont Hospital in June.

“The business plan calls for a

?¬7 million capital investment and annual running costs of e4 million. This will address the 200 children who are expected to take up this opportunity.

“The meeting acknowledged that this is a winnable campaign but that the focus must be on keeping up the pressure and delivering the funding and business plan as early as possible.

?