asked the Minister for Health the approximate length of time that (a) school children and (b) adult medical card holders in the Eastern Health Board area have to wait before receiving free dental treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Free Dental Treatment.
73.
Priority is given, in the Eastern Health Board, to provision of dental treatment for children. They normally have to wait about six weeks for such treatment. Certain groups of adult medical card holders are given priority treatment. These groups include expectant mothers, the handicapped, those requiring treatment for special medical reasons and the elderly. In their case the waiting period is also about six weeks except for the elderly where the waiting period is about seven months. Medical card holders outside the priority groups have to wait considerably longer. Emergency treatment, usually for the relief of pain, is provided immediately in all cases at all centres.
I have stated on many occasions that there is an obvious need to extend and develop the public dental services. The position is being kept under constant review to see how best improvements can be effected. I would hope that the job creation proposals in the recent budget will allow a significant improvement to be made in these services in 1977.