asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there is a three to four year waiting list for orthodontic treatment in the Eastern Health Board; and if he has plans to improve this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Orthodontic Treatment List.
4.
I am aware of the waiting period referred to by the Deputy.
Orthodontists are in short supply. This, coupled with an increasing demand for orthodontic treatment in recent years, has tended to give rise to lengthy waiting lists. An added factor is that a higher priority must be given to basic dental services until these have reached a satisfactory level in the country as a whole.
However, I have the position under constant review and every effort will be made gradually to expand orthodontic services, including those in the Eastern Health Board area, as soon as further development money becomes available.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that remedial treatment of this nature is urgent and if it is delayed, as it is being, for a criminal length the condition we are trying to rectify is likely to become permanent and may never be repaired? Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that something urgent should be done in this regard? The Parliamentary Secretary mentioned "basic dental services" but the amount of money given for dental services in the Eastern Health Board region would only permit the employment of two dentists even though 12 dentists are required. The old excuse that dentists are not available no longer applies. Dentists are available and the only thing that is not available is money. Will the Parliamentary Secretary supply the necessary money or will the children who are ten years of age have to leave the national school before they are treated? Are they to be criminally neglected by the Parliamentary Secretary?
At present many of the wholetime dental officers undertake the simpler orthodontic procedures. It must be remembered that as a health service orthodontics has not a very high priority and a good deal of money could be spent on that speciality for purely cosmetic reasons if orthodontists were in good supply.
We were not referring to cosmetics at all.