asked the Minister for Social Welfare the progress made to date regarding dentists in County Mayo presently not operating under the national scheme, thus disqualifying many people who are eligible for dental treatment under that scheme.
Written Answers. - Mayo Dentists.
117.
As I already indicated in reply to earlier questions on this subject, the names of certain dentists in County Mayo were removed from the Dental Panel for refusing to comply with the terms of their agreement with my Department and six other dentists withdrew from the scheme in sympathy with their colleagues. There is still however a number of dentists operating the scheme in County Mayo and a total of approximately 40 dentists in the Counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. Insured persons in the county who are qualified for dental treatment under the dental benefit scheme and who are unable to obtain any necessary dental treatment 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.
It is, however, still my sincere wish that the dentists in the County Mayo area who are no longer on the Dental Panel will reconsider their position in the interests of the insured persons in the area and resume participation in the scheme as soon as possible.