asked the Minister for Health whether he is satisfied with the present ratio of free-treatment patients per dentist in the country; and what action is proposed to increase the number of dentists to free-treatment patients.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Service.
7.
I am aware that the public dental service, at its present stage of development, is not adequate to provide comprehensive dental treatment for all eligible persons requiring such treatment. The operation of this service is dependent mainly on the employment of wholetime dental officers. As the Deputy is aware from my reply to his question yesterday, there has been a substantial increase in recent years in the number of such officers and health boards are continuing their efforts to recruit further staff.
Can the Minister give the House any information about a possible increase in the number of dentists in this public sector over the next year or two? Are there any figures in the possession of the Department?
We have over 20 vacancies for full time dentists and local authority appointments are proceeding. If we were able to recruit all of those, that would be in addition to the 141 whole time dental officers we already have, giving a substantial increase in one year. Sometimes it is difficult to get vacancies filled, although the salaries are very comparable with those paid in Great Britain.