(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Health the number of dental surgeons operation the choice of dentist scheme.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Choice of Dentist Scheme.
26.
Three hundred and thirty-nine dentists in private practice are participating in the scheme.
(Cavan-Monaghan): In view of the Minister's reply to Deputy Donnellan, how many of those are accepting new patients and how many are not accepting new patients?
These are participating currently. To get some idea of what has happened, the Irish Dental Association entered into the scheme initially on a trial basis to 31 March 1980. As they felt they had not received sufficient concessions in terms of costs, payments and other elements, the association advised their members to withdraw from the scheme. Consequently some 98 of the 383 dentists participating in the scheme withdraw from it, leaving 285 private dentists participating. However, the number has been slowly but steadily increasing since then and, as of January 1 1981, there were 339 participating. In the meantime new terms were worked out and agreed last May or early in the year.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister not aware that there are wide areas in which nobody is participating in this scheme — for example, in my own county? For example, there is no dentist participating in Cavan town nor is there a resident dentist within 30 miles of the town. Does the Minister consider that is a genuine choice of dentist scheme?
It is a new scheme which was introduced and has been taken up on a fairly wide basis by dentists. It has not been taken up as widely as I would like and it is a matter I keep under review.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is there not a deplorable waiting time for people who want dental attention at present?
That is a separate question.
(Cavan-Monaghan): It is very important for the people waiting for attention.
Question No. 27.
It arises on the Deputy's next question.
27.
(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Health if health boards were obliged to suspend the choice of dentist scheme in 1980 due to lack of finance; and if he will make adequate moneys available in 1981 for this scheme.
During 1980 three health boards temporarily suspended the issue of further authorisations to receive treatment under this scheme in order to review their financial allocation in the light of their claims experience since the scheme began. While this review was being undertaken I allocated further moneys for the scheme to all health boards and the issue of authorisations was resumed in those cases in which it had been temporarily suspended. Claims experience in 1980 has been taken into account in considering allocations for 1981.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister said a number of health boards had to close down the scheme last year because of lack of finance. How much was provided last year and what is being provided this year?
If the Deputy puts down that question I will get the information for him.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister give an undertaking to provide sufficient funds this year to allow the scheme to operate?
As I said, it is a new scheme. The claims experience obtained in 1980 was taken into account in considering the allocations for 1981. It is hoped there will be adequate funds to enable the scheme to continue for the rest of the year.
(Cavan-Monaghan): How many boards closed down the scheme last year?
Three health boards suspended the scheme. Their authorisations were used up but subsequently they got further funds. We had no experience of this scheme as it was new, a successful innovation introduced by the Government. It was more successful than we anticipated. We have experience of the scheme now and the Deputy might welcome such an imaginative scheme from the Government.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I would welcome more, as the Minister can appreciate, a sufficient allocation of funds to enable it to operate.
28.
(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Health if health boards have refused to comply with his Department's wishes that the choice of dentist scheme should be run by the local principal dental surgeon; and the action he proposes to take in the matter.
My Department have not expressed any wish that the choice of dentist scheme should be run by the local principal dental surgeon. It is entirely a matter for the chief executive officer to decide what functions should be discharged by the principal dental surgeon in relation to the scheme. In the circumstances I do not propose to take any action in the matter.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is it a fact that the Minister's Department rightly thought that the scheme should be operated by the principal dental surgeon and that the health boards refused to do that but transferred the operation of the scheme to a layman with the result that the scheme has broken down?
At no stage was it suggested by the Department that the scheme should be run by the principal dental surgeon although in many areas the principal dental surgeon receives the applications, maintains the waiting lists and issues authorisations within the limits set by the community care programme manager. It is a matter for the chief executive officer to decide.
A final supplementary.
(Cavan-Monaghan): In some health boards were the duties the Minister has just outlined taken away from the principal dental surgeon and given to some lay member of the staff? For that reason the scheme has not worked. What does the Minister propose to do about this?
It is a matter which is the responsibility of the chief executive officer of the board and is one for operation within the board. In view of the Deputy's point I will have the matter investigated.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Surely it is a matter for the Minister to see that the scheme works.