asked the Minister for Social Welfare if any change is contemplated in the dental benefit scheme in relation to the payment of fees by patients to the dentists.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Benefit Scheme.
52.
There are no proposals at present for any change in the existing arrangements whereby insured persons qualified for dental benefit under the dental benefit scheme administered by my Department receive certain treatment free of charge and are required to pay a contribution towards the cost of other treatment.
53.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position of insured persons in County Mayo who are unable to avail of extractions under the dental benefit scheme without charge because of the unauthorised charging of fees to patients by dentists in the scheme.
54.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will take action against those dentists who have charged unauthorised fees to insured persons in County Mayo for extractions under the dental benefit scheme.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together.
Insured persons in County Mayo who are qualified for dental treatment under the dental benefit scheme administered by my Department and who are unable to obtain such treatment, including extractions, in their own area may be allowed any travelling or other expenses necessarily incurred in going to a convenient local centre where such treatment is available to them from another dentist on the dental panel, free of charge.
A number of dentists in County Mayo against whom complaints were made have recently been removed from the panel of dentists authorised to participate in the dental benefit scheme for failing to comply with the terms of their agreements.