asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Wexford whose only household income is her husband's disabled person's allowance, has been informed that her local clinic cannot provide dentures for her although it is two years since her teeth were removed; that the person in question is not in a position to pay for dentures; and the way in which his Department proposes that this basic necessity be provided for the person in question.
Written Answers. - Dentures Provision.
108.
The South Eastern Health Board is not in a position to say when the person in question will be provided with dentures. Due to my concern at the level of operation of health board dental services generally, and in particular the service for adults, last year I set up a working group under the chairmanship of my colleague, Deputy Terry Leyden, Minister of State at my Department, to look into the situation and, where necessary, to make recommendations for the improvement of the service. Following examination of the working group's report in December last I asked all the health boards to let me have certain information in relation to their dental services so that the financial implications of a programme of improvements might be ascertained. A number of health boards have yet to respond to this inquiry.