asked the Minister for Health if he has seen the National Prices Commission report on Irish dental laboratories; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
407.
Written Answers. - Dental Laboratories.
406.
asked the Minister for Health the total number of prosthetists in Ireland; and the action, if any, which is being taken to train and license them.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 407 together.
I have examined the report on Irish Dental Laboratories carried out at the request of the National Prices Commission. The report consists of a very detailed examination of the dental laboratory trade and deals with a number of issues which are the responsibility of other agencies such as the Industrial Development Authority, Córas Tráchtála and so on.
As Minister for Health my concern is with issues affecting the organisation of dental services. In this category the report refers to the question of dental prosthetists. This term is generally applied to a category of dental technician trained to make and supply dental appliances directly for members of the public. This arrangement is precluded in Ireland by the terms of the Dentists Act, 1928, and no facilities exist for training or licensing dental prosthetists. Consequently I have no information on the number of prosthetists in Ireland at present and any who are here cannot legally practise as prosthetists. Proposals to train and licence dental prosthetists have been made by the Irish Association for Dental Prosthetists. These and many other issues referred to in the report will be taken into account in the comprehensive review of public dental services now under way and also in the context of the new Dentists Bill which I hope to introduce early in 1979.