Vol. 258 No. 3
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will agree to the proposal by the Irish Dental Association to submit the association's case to an independent arbitrator in the present dispute on the understanding that each side will accept the arbitrator's findings.
27.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a considerable number of insured workers cannot avail themselves of the dental services under the Department's dental scheme as a result of the dispute between the Irish Dental Association and his Department; and what action is being taken in this matter.
28.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement concerning the current dispute between the Irish Dental Association and his Department; and if he is aware of the considerable hardship being caused to many insured workers arising from the continuance of this dispute.
29.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare what steps are being taken to secure early settlement of the dispute with the Irish Dental Association.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 27, 28 and 29 together. Acting on the advice of the Irish Dental Association, and in pursuance of a demand for higher fees, a majority of dentists terminated their agreements to provide treatment for eligible insured workers under my Department's dental benefit scheme. However, a substantial number of dentists remain on the dental panel and treatment under the scheme is still available from those dentists. Furthermore, some 6,000 insured workers over the normal number for that time of the year who applied for treatment from their dentists immediately before their resignation took effect on 1st December, 1971, are at present being treated under the scheme. Since then some 4,000 additional late claims received from dentists who have resigned have been admitted and treatment approved. Some 3,000 claims have also been received in the same period from dentists still on the dental panel. I am not aware, therefore, that, so far, any considerable hardship has been caused to insured workers.
As an interim arrangement, pending a closer study of the matter, including a general survey of the times taken for the various dental operations, which would provide a firmer and more satisfactory basis for determining a new scale of fees, an offer of a substantial overall percentage increase in fees has been made to the Irish Dental Association. A reply to this offer has not yet been received from the association.
I would add that I cannot accept that the matter at issue is one which could or should be referred to an arbitrator. We are in effect asking dentists to provide a service for fees which we consider provide them with a reasonable profit. If they are unwilling to provide that service at a reasonable cost then the dental benefit scheme cannot be provided by my Department and I may be compelled to suspend or terminate it. However, so long as a substantial number of dentists remain on the dental panel the scheme will continue.
What is the total number of dentists involved who have suspended their services and the number who have continued to provide services?
I have given that information time and again.
Is the Minister seriously suggesting that those who have continued to provide these services could provide a proper dental service for insured workers? In view of the fact that the people are deprived of it what compensation or what alternative arrangement can be made whereby these insured persons can have a proper dental service made available to them? They are paying for this.
That is a series of supplementary questions.
This is a very important matter.
I do not want to say anything that would exacerbate the position at the present time.
I think the Minister is entitled to outline the scheme which will compensate these insured workers, who are paying but not getting any service, and it is ridiculous for the Minister to suggest the scheme is in operation and organised properly at the present time; he is depriving people of a service for which they are paying and to which they are entitled.
Could the Minister give us the figures? How many are withdrawn and how many are still operating?
402 withdrawn and 106 remained on the panel—that is the nearest I can go.
Is the Minister suggesting one-fifth can provide an adequate dental service?
That is the question. Each dentist was not allocated an equal number of patients and some dentists did little or no work under the scheme. Others did a vast amount of work depending on the number of insured persons attending them. We could carry out the scheme with fewer dentists and I am arranging in future to have fewer dentists on the scheme.
Is the Minister suggesting this 106 dentists are able to provide the adequate services previously provided by 500?
That is a separate question.
No. I should like to have more dentists on the scheme. If the suggestion is that the dentists should get what they are looking for——
Who made that suggestion?
The suggestion is that the Minister should negotiate with them. It is a service for insured workers and they are not getting a service.
There is a dispute and we are trying to come to an amicable arrangement. There is not much between us and exaggerating the situation does no good.
How long has the dispute been on?
I think since 1st September.
It is well over eight weeks so. There are insured workers who are not able to get dental service.
