Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Nov 1961

Vol. 192 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dentures and Dental Treatment: Functions of Local Authorities.

5.

asked the Minister for Health the function of local authorities in providing dentures and dental treatment to medical card holders.

Under Section 14 of the Health Act, 1953, and Article 8 of the General Medical Services Regulations, 1954, health authorities are required to make available, without charge, dental treatment and dental appliances for persons who are unable to provide, by their own industry or other lawful means, the dental treatment or appliances necessary for themselves or their dependants. The possession of a Medical Card entitling the holder to free general medical services does not, however, automatically entitle that person to free dental services from the health authority. The health authority must be satisfied that the dental services applied for are necessary for the particular applicant and that he is unable to provide them from his own resources. Moreover, an applicant, although the holder of a Medical Card, may be qualified as an insured employee to obtain free dental treatment or a grant towards the cost of dentures under the Dental Benefit Scheme administered by the Department of Social Welfare. If he is so qualified, he is not eligible for free dental treatment from the local health authority because he can get the treatment he needs otherwise and he may be deemed not to be eligible for the supply of dentures from that authority on the grounds that he is in a position to bear his portion of the cost of this service under the Social Welfare Scheme. Under Article 5 of the Dental and Aural Appliances Regulations, 1961, the health authority is authorised to make a payment towards the amount of any contribution payable by such a person for dentures under the Department of Social Welfare Dental Benefit Scheme.

Because of the limited amount of funds and dental personnel available to local health authorities, it has been my policy, and that of my predecessor, to recommend to health authorities that they should concentrate mainly on providing dental treatment for children who are entitled to free dental treatment under the school health and child welfare services, as children stand to benefit most from such treatment. This means that only a limited dental service is available in most areas for adults in the lower income group. In particular, dentures are provided only on a restricted basis in many areas.

Under Article 3 of the Dental and Aural Appliances Regulations, 1961, the legal liability of each health authority to make dentures available for persons in the lower income group is limited to the extent to which it can make such appliances available from a sum determined each year, by the Minister for Health, after consultation with the health authority. In fixing this sum, which it is hoped it will be possible to increase from year to year according as dental facilities are improved, I propose to have regard to what the health authority can reasonably be expected to do, bearing in mind the prior need to provide a good service for children. The Regulations also stipulate that in making dentures available to persons in the lower income group, a health authority shall have particular regard to the needs of expectant and nursing mothers and of persons suffering from tuberculosis.

Health Authorities have been hampered in providing dental services by the difficulty in recruiting and retaining the services of whole-time dental surgeons. A large number of such posts has recently been advertised by the Local Appointments Commissioners and it is hoped that sufficient candidates will be forthcoming as an improved salary scale has recently been approved for such posts.

I am keeping the position regarding the expansion of this service and, in particular, the matter of the recruitment of additional dentists, under review.

Would the Minister say to what extent, if any, there is in operation a service for the provision of free dentures to people who have not this service from the Department of Social Welfare?

I have fully dealt with that matter in the reply. I have nothing to add to the reply I have already given.

The Minister did say the extent of the responsibility on the local authority, but I am asking if there is in any local authority now a scheme for the provision of dentures to people who have not the service available to them from the Department of Social Welfare.

There is. Since the 1961 Regulations.

The Minister could not say to what extent?

No, I cannot.

It is very limited.

Perhaps, yes; but I have already explained that our ability to provide this service is limited, not merely by the funds available, but by the fact that qualified dental personnel is not available and has not been so far obtainable.

Did I hear the Minister correctly as saying he expected an improvement in that respect this year or next year?

Provided we are able to fill all the vacancies which have been advertised.

Did I understand the Minister correctly that a local authority may assist a person seeking dentures under the social welfare scheme, if that person is not in a position to pay his portion from his own resources?

Top
Share