asked the Minister for Health the classes of people entitled to free dentures from local authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Dentures.
43.
The persons eligible for free dentures under the Health Acts are:— (a) pupils of national schools in respect of defects discovered at school health examinations, and (b) adults, and their dependants, in the lower income group who are unable to provide dentures for themselves by their own industry or other lawful means.
I am aware that, because of a shortage of dental staff and the necessity to concentrate most of the available dental resources on children's treatment, many health authorities are not able to provide a satisfactory denture service for all eligible adults. Priority is given to certain categories of adults such as expectant and nursing mothers, tuberculosis patients, and persons certified to need dentures for urgent medical reasons.
Has the Minister any plans to deal with the shortage of staff?
There are certain plans put forward in the White Paper, mainly in relation to the integration of private dentists on a fairly large scale.
Will the Minister not agree that the reply which he has given about the shortage of staff has been given over the past few years and there does not seem to have been anything done about it? Does he further agree that the White Paper does not seem to have got the country any further? Has he any direct plans to offer the country?
In regard to the dental services generally?
In regard to providing dental services which are non-existent at the moment.
This question is about free dentures from the local authorities. The Deputy is asking a question about the dental services generally. Last week I answered a question in that regard and I pointed out that the ratio between dentists and the population is relatively good compared with other countries in Europe. I also pointed out that there is a world-wide shortage of dentists at present.
Would the Minister not agree——
We cannot debate this question all day.
I am asking the Minister to indicate to the country what plans he has to offset this shortage of dentists.
That seems to be a separate question. The question relates to free dentures and not to the classes of people who are eligible.
You cannot have dentures without dentists.
Then a question on that matter should have been put down.
I pointed out that the proposal is that when the necessary funds are available, the services of private dentists on the lines laid down in the White Paper will be used, and they will be integrated with the public service. I also pointed out that I had eased the conditions for recruitment to the public service.