asked the Minister for Health what is the present position with regard to the introduction of a scheme to provide free dentures for all members of the lower income group in County Wexford.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Free Dentures Scheme.
34.
Mr. O'Malley
In reply to a previous Parliamentary Question on this subject, on 10th March, 1964, the Deputy was informed that an additional whole-time post as dentist under the Wexford health authority had been approved to enable the provision of dental treatment, and dentures, for lower income group adults, and that the dentist had taken up duty on 1st February, 1964. Unfortunately, the advantage of the additional appointment was offset by the resignation, within a short time of that appointment being made, of one of the permanent whole-time dentists employed by the health authority on the provision of dental services for children, which rendered it necessary to assign the new appointee to fill that vacancy. The new officer subsequently resigned from the local authority service to engage in private practice.
Arrangements are at present in train for the filling of the vacancy on the permanent staff of the health authority through the machinery of the Local Appointments Commissioners. In the meantime, the health authority have endeavoured to fill the two vacancies on their approved staff complement on a temporary basis, but although two dentists were appointed within the past six months it was found impossible to retain their services and advertisements issued in February last and last month did not result in any applications. The health authority are being pressed to continue their efforts in this regard.
Until the full authorised complement of three whole-time dentists is available, in addition to the four part-time dentists working in the area on a sessional basis, it will not be possible to resume a denture service for eligible adults as it is accepted policy that children should have first priority in the matter of dentistry.