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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1971

Vol. 252 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Dental Clinic.

13.

asked the Minister for Health why children attending schools south of Kenmare, County Kerry must attend at the dental clinic in Killarney, which is 30 miles away, in view of the fact that children in Kenmare town are treated in that town; and if he will arrange with the health authority to have all the children in the Kenmare district treated in Kenmare town.

I am informed by the local health authority that, so far, it has not found it possible to provide, in Kenmare, a dental centre capable of providing comprehensive dental care for children from the surrounding district. Under arrangements made by the health authority with local private dentists, children in the town receive treatment in the dentists' surgeries but it is not possible for these dentists to undertake the additional work involved in treating other children from the adjoining rural area. Consequently, these other children who, as a result of recent school dental inspection were found to be in need of conservative treatment, have been advised to attend the Killarney dental clinic. I understand that the health authority's staff, who from 1st April will operate under the new Southern Health Board, will continue their efforts to provide a suitable dental clinic in Kenmare for the benefit of children from the surrounding district.

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