asked the Minister for Health whether, further to a reply of 7th November, he is aware that in the Health Centre, Ballygall Road, Finglas, Dublin no dental treatment can be given which requires anaesthesia by gas; and that for all such dental treatment children must travel to Cornmarket; and whether he will take steps to ensure that this type of treatment will be provided in Finglas, in view of the fact that it is a greater hardship to the children to travel some distance home after total anaesthesia by gas than it is after other types of dental treatment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Treatment in Finglas (Dublin) Health Centre.
9.
I am informed by the Dublin Health Authority that dental treatment under general anaesthetic is not provided at the Health Centre, Ballygall Road, Finglas, and that eligible children from Finglas requiring such treatment are normally referred to the health authority's dental clinic at Cornmarket.
The provision of dental treatment under general anaesthetic at the Health Centre, Finglas, would be a matter for the Dublin Health Authority in the first instance. I understand that the health authority propose to review their arrangements for the provision of dental treatment under general anaesthetic as part of the comprehensive review of their dental services which they intend to make shortly.
I should perhaps add that the Deputy may not appreciate that there is a direct bus service from Finglas to a point about seven or eight minutes walking distance from the Cornmarket centre.
With regard to the last part of the answer, I understand that there is a bus service but surely the Minister realises how inconvenient and difficult it is for children to travel in a bus after having had gas. If the Minister ever had that experience himself, he would know how difficult it is. I wonder if it would be possible to afford the children the facility of having the anaesthetic locally?
Some children must travel by bus to get dental treatment. You cannot have a dental centre at every street corner.
Having regard to the distance there is between Finglas and Cornmarket, I think that it is very important that the children should have the facilities in Finglas. There is no bus service direct from Finglas to Cornmarket.
It would be impossible to provide dental centres in every street.