Vol. 196 No. 1
asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the number of adults awaiting dental treatment in County Offaly who are the holders of medical cards; if it is a fact that many such persons had their teeth extracted and are waiting for many years for dentures; if he will give the reason for such long delay; and what steps he proposes to take to deal immediately with these outstanding cases, all of whom are medical card holders.
15.
asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the number of adults awaiting dental treatment in County Laois, who are the holders of medical cards; if it is a fact that many such persons had their teeth extracted and are waiting for many years for dentures; if he will give the reason for such long delay; and what steps he proposes to take to deal immediately with these outstanding cases, all of whom are medical card holders.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.
I am informed that there is no waiting list of eligible adults for general dental treatment under the dental services provided by either Offaly or Laois County Councils.
I understand, however, that in both areas there has been considerable delay in the provision of dentures for certain eligible persons; at present there is a waiting list for dentures of 343 persons in County Laois and 460 in County Offaly.
The supply of dentures to persons in the lower income group is primarily a matter for the health authorities. It is only fair to the authorities that I should point out, however, that, in common with most other health authorities, they are concentrating their limited resources mainly on the provision of dental services for children as that group stand to benefit most from dental treatment. I have, however, advised health authorities in a circular which issued from my Department in March, 1962, that while they should continue to pursue this policy, they should make some reasonable provision for a denture service for adults in the lower income group.
A restricted service for the supply of dentures to persons in the lower income group is in operation in County Laois preference being given to expectant and nursing mothers, and to tuberculosis and other patients who are specially recommended dentures on medical grounds. I have had inquiries made from the health authority to see if improved arrangements can be made for the supply of dentures within their limited available resources.
Offaly County Council have been unable to provide a denture service for adults for some time with their limited dental resources but I understand that arrangements are being made to provide a denture service in the near future.
Would the Minister take steps in the case of Laois, where there are a number of holders of medical cards waiting for dental treatment and for dentures for over five years, to request or to insist that the local authority will deal with these cases?
He has requested the local authority to expedite these matters.
Is there not an obligation on the local authority responsible for extracting the teeth to provide replacements?
There is an obligation on them to do their best.
Is the Minister satisfied that a delay of five years is most unreasonable?
