asked the Minister for Health whether he will state the nature and extent of the dental benefit provided by the Laois County Council for persons on the medical register; and whether it is mainly restricted to expectant mothers and school children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Benefits in Laois.
54.
I understand that, in common with most other health authorities, the limited resources in dental personnel available to the Laois Health Authority are concentrated mainly on the provision of services for children. In the case of eligible adults, the dental treatment service is confined to extractive work, and a system of priority operates in connection with the supply of dentures.
I am informed that the treatment service for eligible adults generally, and the denture service for the priority classes, including expectant mothers, are reasonably satisfactory, but that a large backlog of adult patients requiring dentures has accumulated over a period of years.
While I appreciate that the health authority are utilising the dental staff at their disposal to the best advantage, this is a situation which, in my view, cannot be allowed to continue. The steps to be taken to remedy the deficiencies in the dental services, not only in the Laois area, but throughout the country, are a matter which I will consider in connection with my proposals for reorganisation and improvement of the health services generally.