AQW 51603/22-27


Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford


Tabled Date: 10/09/2026
Answered On Date: 25/09/2026
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Assembly Commission to detail when the loop system installed in Parliament Buildings will be updated to enable MLAs with digital hearing aids, prescribed and provided by local Health and Social Care Trusts, to be able to access assistive listening technology.


Answer:
The Chamber in Parliament Buildings is equipped with an induction loop system which provides assistive listening technology for users of compatible hearing aids, including many digital hearing aids where telecoil functionality is available and activated.
It was recently brought to the Assembly Commission's attention that some hearing aid users may be unable to access the induction loop system where telecoil functionality on their hearing aids is not available or has not been activated.
As a result, a Bluetooth assistive listening device has been purchased and will be trialled as a potential individual assistive solution for users who are unable to access the induction loop system through their hearing aids.
The existing induction loop system remains the most inclusive solution for a shared Chamber environment, enabling multiple users to access proceedings simultaneously without the need for individual device pairing.
A recent accessibility review did not identify a requirement to upgrade the Chamber's assistive listening system. The Assembly Commission will continue to keep accessibility requirements under review.