asked the Minister for Health whether he has any proposal for the expansion of the school dental service in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Dental Service.
25.
The provision of dental services for school children in any area is primarily the responsibility of the health board concerned. These services are provided mainly by full time dental surgeons employed by the health board. Any reasonable proposals by a health board for the improvement of their child dental services through the employment of additional full time dental surgeons will be favourably considered by my Department.
I would add that, over all, there has been a considerable improvement in the number of such dental personnel employed by health boards; over the past five years the number so employed has increased by 50 per cent to a total of 155.