asked the Minister for Health the plans he has for the provision of an adequate dental and orthodontic service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental and Orthodontic Service.
40.
The framework for the provision of an adequate dental and orthodontic service for eligible persons already exists. In the case of the dental service the embargo on the creation of additional posts in the public service does not permit the health boards to increase their dental staff numbers at present, but all the health boards are managing to maintain staff numbers at the approved level. Some health boards have cut back on the use of private dental practitioners for the treatment of eligible patients in order to cut costs. The amount of money which is allocated to any particular service is a matter for the individual health board to decide on.
In the case of orthodontics, the health boards have been given approval to employ a total of six consultant orthodontists. One consultant orthodontist has been appointed to date and the Local Appointments Commission are seeking to recruit consultant orthodontists to fill the remaining posts. It is expected that another post, and possibly two, will be filled quite soon. In the light of the remarkable progress that has been made in such a short time in the one health board that has a consultant orthodontist I am confident that the filling of the vacant consultant orthodontist posts will go a long way towards providing an adequate orthodontic service for eligible persons.