(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Health if the health boards propose to appoint consultant dental surgeons in paediatric dentistry to deal with disabled and mentally retarded and mentally handicapped patients this year which has been designated the Year of the Disabled.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Surgeons.
24.
In order to encourage the general development of paediatric dentistry, health boards have been invited to submit proposals for the appointment in the public dental service of a number of senior clinical dental surgeons. These officers will have special responsibility for organising paediatric dental services including, in particular, dental services for handicapped children. There is no immediate proposal to advertise consultant posts in paediatric dentistry which is a relatively new specialty, but the situation will be kept under review.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister agree that paediatric dentistry is a particularly important branch of dentistry? Could he give us any idea when he proposes to do something concrete about these appointments other than talking about them?
As I have said, we are appointing the senior clinical dental surgeons immediately. The question of paediatric consultants will be kept under review.
25.
(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Health the number of principal dental surgeons employed by the health boards on 1 January 1981.
Thirty principal dental surgeons were employed by the health boards on 1 January 1981.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Could the Minister tell us how many are employed by each health board?
The Eastern Health Board, eight; the Midland Health Board, two; the Mid-Western Health Board, three; the North-Eastern Health Board, three; The North-Western Health Board, two; the South-Eastern Health Board, four; the Southern Health Board, five; and the Western Health Board, three.