asked the Minister for Health the estimated child/dentist ratio in the school dental service in Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Dental Service.
11.
The ratio requested by the Deputy is estimated to be one dentist to 3,000 children attending national schools. Under the job creation programme provided for in the recent budget I have authorised the appointment of seven additional dentists for Dublin. This should serve to reduce the ratio to approximately one to 2,600.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that a dentist can carry out these duties to the satisfaction of the children?
I am quite sure that there will never be entire satisfaction in this scheme until it is further improved, but it is a good thing that we are improving it.
Any improvement is welcome but that should not prevent us from aiming at what is the right of the children. The Parliamentary Secretary knows that many children are waiting for the past two years, some for inspection and others for treatment arising from inspection. I am not happy to ask one dentist to look after 2,500 children.
The Minister, the Department of Health and myself are not happy either, but we are trying to improve the situation. From inquires I made to the Eastern Health Board it has been revealed that there are no special problems regarding dental service for the children of Dublin. There are complaints but we are hoping to improve the situation.
The Parliamentary Secretary accepts that the situation is not satisfactory. Would the Parliamentary Secretary look at the situation and endeavour to implement a crash programme whereby the non-Eastern Health Board dentists would complement the effort that is being made for a period of a year or two until the thing is straightened out?
I will look at it. We all tend to forget the chlorination of the water in Dublin. Our medical advice is that since that was authorised in 1964 there has been a 50 per cent decrease in dental caries.