asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of public dental services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Public Dental Services.
6.
Mr. Ryan
As health authorities do not make separate returns to my Department of their expenditure on dental services, the compilation of an up-to-date statement of the total expenditure by health authorities on such services would necessitate asking each health authority to furnish specially, particulars of its expenditure on these services in the current period. This would involve delay but if an estimate based on available data would suffice for the Deputy's purpose a figure of £130,000 may be taken as representing health authorities' expenditure on dental services in the current financial year. To this should be added the outlay on dental services provided under the Dental Benefit Scheme of the Department of Social Welfare. Consequent on the recent easement in favour of insured adolescents of the conditions of qualification for dental benefit and the increase in fees granted to private dentists participating in the Scheme, expenditure on the Dental Benefit Scheme is now running at £290,000 a year.
Taking estimated outlay by health authorities together with expenditure by the Department of Social Welfare, the total annual cost of public dental services is, therefore, of the order of £420,000 a year.