asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that, following the suspension of the commencement of new orthodontic treatment of national school children in the Eastern Health Board area, a number of such children will have left national school before September next and thus be ineligible for treatment; and if, in these circumstances, he will request the board to review this economy measure.
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Treatment.
64.
As the Deputy will be aware, it was indicated in reply to a previous parliamentary question—Official Report 27th April, 1976, Volume 290, columns 7 and 8—that, although the Eastern Health Board had decided to give priority to the provision of basic treatment services to eligible school children, they proposed to review the position in relation to orthodontic treatment for such children in September next. While I appreciate the point made by the Deputy, I regret that in the light of resources currently available, I could not ask the board to review their decision at an earlier date.