asked the Minister for Health when the ad hoc dental scheme which was suspended on 1 June 1984, in the Western Health Board area will be resumed; and the number of persons on the waiting list for treatment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ad Hoc Dental Scheme.
9.
The Western Health Board are not in a position at present to say when they will be able to resume the ad hoc dental scheme. Emergency treatment for the relief of pain is provided by the board's dental staff for eligible persons. At present there are 9,000 adults on the waiting list for routine dental treatment. The manner in which the funds available to them are allocated to the different services they provide is a matter for the individual health board.
In view of the fact that we have not had the ad hoc dental scheme for two years and that there are more than 9,000 adults on the waiting list, will the Minister consult the Western Health Board about resuming the scheme? Will he say if the health board have had discussions with the dentists about resuming this scheme or providing even emergency treatment?
As the Deputy knows, in the ad hoc scheme the health board used the services of dentists in private practice to provide treatment for eligible adult patients. The board decided to suspend that scheme and to treat all cases, particularly emergency cases, through the board's ordinary dental services. I do not know the outcome of discussions between the IDA and the Western Health Board. It is a matter for the board to decide if they want to resume the scheme in 1986. Quite a number of boards are resuming the ad hoc scheme in 1986 but so far I have had no indication from the Western Health Board that they intend to do so.
Will the Minister agree that between adults and young people there are about 20,000 people on the waiting list for orthodontic services? Further, will he not agree it would mean having nine people on an orthodontic team to provide a minimum service? In view of the commitment he has given to Dublin, and to the Eastern Health Board region, will he ensure that a consultant orthodontist on an academic basis be made available in the Western Health Board area to alleviate the long waiting list there?
The situation in the Western Health Board area is quite different from that of the Eastern Health Board in relation to such an appointment.
They are all people.
I hope a consultant orthodontist will be appointed in the Western Health Board area in the near future.
Will the Minister not agree that this question and also Question No. 7 are symptoms of a nationwide problem——
The question is confined to the Western Health Board area.
Will the Minister not agree that consideration should be given to taking money away from the education of dentists and put into the operation of the service at health board level?
The Deputy is out of order.
My question is relevant.
It is another question.
We are spending too much on education and we are exporting the dentists and this at a time when we are not providing enough money for services.
As far as I am aware, the Minister has asked the health board to cut back almost £4 million in their budget. We must be the only health board in the country who have not an adult dental scheme. It is very difficult to provide a service when they are asked to cut back.
Time and time again I have indicated that this kind of mythical £4 million figure which is trotted out by public representatives has little bearing on reality. The health board have received an increase in their allocation for 1986. Inflation is running at 2.5 per cent and the health board allocations are up by 5½ per cent. They have money available to them.
We have no dental service.
Every health board will tell public representatives they are short of money.
The Minister is spending millions of pounds on educating dentists for export.
I am moving now to questions nominated for priority.