Cabinet Committees
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-24
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Ruairí Ó Murchú (SF), Louth

I have received the following communication:
I am writing as a parent of deaf adults.
I … am interested in your views.
My daughter and her partner were both born profoundly deaf and rely heavily on their hearing aid to be able to work and communicate their needs.
At present a pair of hearing aids cost 5,800 euro per person and must be replaced every 5-7 years.
While the treatment benefit scheme provides a 1,000 refund per pair, this leaves families like theirs a cost of 4,800 per pair. Simply to access sound. They were refused a medical card on income grounds even though there primary need is audiology care. Means testing does not account for lifelong disabilities with unavoidable costs.
I am asking for your support in:
Reconsidering eligibility for audiology only medical care access or
Developing a non-means tested audiology pathway for congenital deafness.
My daughter and her partner ... work … They pay a mortgage, childcare and commute daily to Dublin in order to be part of the working community. The main barrier to their inclusion in the workplace is hearing …
We know the issue with the underemployment of those with disabilities in this State.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:40+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-24