The provision of orthodontic services is a matter for the health boards in the first instance. The Southern Health Board was allocated an additional €1.191 million last year for orthodontic services of which €1.032 million was for the orthodontic initiative. Under the initiative, the board propose to inter alia recruit an additional two consultant orthodontists, one of whom will be located in Kerry.
The chief executive officer of the board has informed me that the Local Appointments Commission has recommended a candidate for one of the consultant orthodontist posts, to be based in the north of Cork city. This candidate is expected to take up duty with the board in September 2002. The board is presently examining the possibility of re-advertising the other consultant post for the Tralee unit in order to expedite an appointment. I have initiated a range of measures to substantially increase the capacity of the orthodontic services and reduce the waiting times for orthodontic treatment.
Structural changes are being introduced into the orthodontic service such as the creation of the grade of specialist in orthodontics, the development of specialist training programmes and the creation of an auxiliary grade of orthodontic therapist to work in the orthodontic area. My Department has provided additional funding of €0.932 million for orthodontic services in 2002 of which €0.541 million was for a specialist training programme in orthodontics. Six dentists from the health boards – four of which are from the Eastern Regional Health Authority – commenced their training for specialist in orthodontics qualifications last October. Discussions on providing an additional training course to commence in 2002 are also under way.