asked the Minister for Health when funds will be available for the adult dental scheme in the Western Health Board area, as the scheme was temporarily suspended on 1 June 1984, after the money allocated was spent.
Written Answers. - Dental Services.
644.
The Western Health Board will consider resuming the ad hoc dental scheme whenever financial circumstances permit.
645.
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the totally inadequate dental service in the Lucan health centre; and if he will increase the number of dentists serving the clinic as children have to wait approximately six months at the moment to have a tooth filled.
The Eastern Health Board cannot currently employ additional dentists. To assign dentists from other areas to the Lucan health centre would adversely affect the service elsewhere. However, the board have recently increased the dental service in the Lucan clinic from two days per week to three days per week. On the days when there is no dental service in Lucan emergency treatment can be obtained at the clinics in Palmerstown and Ballyfermot.