asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at the end of December 1988 there were 4,000 children on the waiting list for dental treatment at the Roselawn Health Centre, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; if, in view of the permanent damage that could be done to the dental health of children in the area because of the delays in seeing a dentist, he intends to take any steps to increase the number of dentists available at this and other health centres; if, in particular, he will exempt health board dentists from the terms of the public service recruitment embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dental Treatment.
29.
In December 1988 there was only one dentist assigned to the Roselawn Health Centre. The staffing level has been built up since then and at present there are three dentists assigned full-time to Roselawn. In addition, the level of the dental service at Roselawn is supplemented by the principal dental officer for the area who provides treatment there from time to time. I recently agreed, at the request of the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board, to the secondment of the deputy chief dental officer of my Department to the health board for a short period to review the board's present arrangements for the delivery of dental services, including staffing levels at the various dental clinics and, where appropriate, to make recommendations for their improvement. I expect this review to be completed shortly.
In general, health boards are managing to maintain dental staffing levels at full strength.