asked the Minister for Health when he proposes to improve the dental health services so that each health authority can cope with the waiting list of patients.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Health Services.
24.
Continuous efforts are being made to improve the scope of the dental services. I have approved the creation of new dental officer posts by various health authorities and the result of a recent competition to fill a considerable number of existing vacancies is at present awaited. I have also encouraged health authorities to supplement their existing staffs by employing private dentists on a part-time basis. I have at present under consideration some other arrangements with private dentists which would enable greater use to be made of their services.
The Deputy will be aware of course that flouridation of piped water supplies, the most practical method of preventing dental decay, is being pressed ahead. Further, as was recently announced, I am considering the introduction of a scheme under which children in areas not served by fluoridated piped water supplies can obtain some of the benefits of fluoridation. These, and education in the care of teeth, that is, prevention rather than treatment, represent the best hope of improving the dental health of the community in general.
Does the Minister consider that the present salary scale for dentists is the cause of this shortage and is he aware that private dentists have so far objected to carrying out services for a number of local authorities because they say the scale offered to them for such services are too low? Has the Minister any evidence of this?
We increased the scale recently from £1,800 to £2,300.
Has it had any effect?
No, unfortunately.
Would the Minister consider a further adjustment, because young dentists just qualified are interested in the very high scales, comparatively, in Britain and are going there? In those circumstances, would the Minister have another look at the scale here? Does he know that local authorities deal only with children and mothers, leaving out ordinary adults? I know it is not easy to remedy this.
It is not easy. As far as money is concerned, I do not think we could afford to offer the same scale as operates in Britain. The alternative is to integrate all dentists in the service. As the Deputy has pointed out, some of them are not willing to work with local authorities.
The Minister will also be aware that the scale offered provides a much lower income than if dentists treated patients privately. They say they are not prepared to cooperate at all. Will the Minister, therefore, have another look at that aspect? If it is true, there must be something wrong.
I do not accept it is so. I was so concerned about it that a few months ago I sent for representatives of the Dental Association. I am afraid the meeting was not fruitful. I do not accept that the scale offered is too low.