asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the delays being experienced by schoolchildren awaiting orthodontic treatment in the Dublin area; if any measures are planned to deal with these delays; and the steps which can be taken to ensure that urgent treatment for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 will be provided before the expected date of 1989.
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Treatment.
158.
The Eastern Health Board are making every effort to treat children with orthodontic conditions as soon as possible. However, at present there are 1,286 children awaiting complicated orthodontic treatments in the Dublin area. The waiting list has grown due to difficulties in attracting suitably qualified persons to fill the vacant post of consultant orthodontist with the Eastern Health Board. This post was created in 1983 and has been advertised on a number of occasions without success as indeed have a number of such posts in other health board areas in recent years. An alternative arrangement has been made between the Eastern Health Board and the Dublin Dental Hospital to provide orthodontic treatment for eligible children and has now been in place for a number of months. This should lead to an improvement in the delivery of services over time. In addition, my Department have very recently received proposals from the Eastern Health Board for the future development of its orthodontic services, which my officials will consider in light of available resources.