asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of dentists in the Western Health Board area who work under the national health insurance scheme; and if he is satisfied that the rate of remuneration presently paid for such services is in accordance with the quality of the work involved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Western Health Board Dental Services.
65.
There are at present 40 dentists on the social welfare (treatment benefits) panel in the counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon which comprise the Western Health Board's area.
The scale of fees for the various items of dental treatment provided under my Department's dental benefit scheme is negotiated annually between the Irish Dental Association and my Department and is subject to the sanction of the National Prices Commission.
Is the Minister aware that there are delays of up to six and seven years among adults for dental treatment and that in respect of orthodontic treatment, which the Minister knows is an important treatment and that there is an age beyond which it is not practical to apply it, there is a delay of three and four years in the Western Health Board area? What will the Minister do to improve the situation in both normal and orthodontic treatment?
As the Deputy is probably aware, I dealt with this at some length under the health questions and I indicated that I was not satisfied with the dental services at present and that there is a review under way in the Department, in conjunction with the Irish Dental Association, and that we now have a new dental officer in the Department of Health who is participating in this review and that I hope to come to the House with proposals for improving the dental services in the not too distant future.
In the light of the urgency of the matter, particularly in relation to orthodontic treatment, will the Minister have the review expedited?
Yes.
This is a delicate matter with many facets to it. I appreciate that a dental officer was appointed in the Department of Health, but is not one of the problems here that there are inadequate training facilities for training dental personnel? Is anything being done to remedy that situation?
A number of different approaches can be taken to improve the situation, but there is the underlying fact that trained professional personnel are in short supply not just here but in Europe generally.
Is it not also a fact that the salaries being offered here are inadequate to attract the type of people we want?
I will not comment on that.
Training is generally the responsibility of the Minister for Education rather than the Minister for Health, is that not right?
Dental training is a matter for the Minister for Education.