asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the total lack of an orthodontic service for County Kerry since December 1987; and the measures he proposes to ensure that the health board carry out their statutory function to provide a proper service.
Written Answers. - County Kerry Orthodontic Service.
38.
The orthodontic service for eligible persons in County Kerry is provided on behalf of the Southern Health Board by two orthodontists in private practice on a part-time sessional basis. This arrangement with the two private orthodontists has been in existence for a number of years and is still in operation. There was no change in the service from December 1987 as the Deputy seems to suggest.
The Southern Health Board are one of the boards for which a full-time post of consultant orthodontist was approved some years ago. The health board have been unsuccessful so far in their efforts to recruit a consultant orthodonist but efforts to do so are continuing and the post will be advertised again shortly.