Vol. 388 No. 5
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the recent increases in fees paid to dentists under the social insurance scheme for the treatment of patients do not even cover the cost of gloves to be worn by the dentists and staff operating the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
117.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of money which has been paid to date to dentists for treatment carried out to spouses of insured workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
118.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the average amount per person per annum paid to dentists for treatment carried out to persons paying full rate PRSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 116 to 118, inclusive, together.
Under the changes recently announced, all fees payable to dentists under the social insurance dental benefit scheme have been increased by 2.5 per cent with effect from 1 October 1988. Additional increases on specific items, where existing fees had got out of line with increases in dentists' costs, were applied from 1 March 1989. Other improvements were also brought into effect from that date, including provision for dental examinations every 12 months instead of 18 months and provision for additional items of treatment in line with ongoing developments in dentistry. The overall value of the package of improvements to dentists in a full year is £1.8 million.
Up to 6 March 1989, a total of £1,700,826 was paid, in respect of claims from dependent spouses of insured persons, to the 184 panel dentists who, at that time, had signed agreements to provide treatment to this category. Five additional dentists have signed such agreements since then.
The average amount per person per annum paid to dentists for treatment carried out on insured persons is estimated at £48.75. This represents a total of £16 million per annum for dental benefit in 1989.
