asked the Minister for Health if he will provide extra funds for the North Eastern Health Board in order to reduce the huge waiting lists for orthodontic treatment.
62.
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Treatment.
56.
asked the Minister for Health if he intends to make addition funds available to the Western Health Board for urgent cases of orthodontic treatment.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 62 together.
It is a matter for individual health boards to apportion the funds available to them between the different services they provide as they see fit. However, in view of the long waiting lists for orthodontic treatment that have built up over the years, the Government recently made a special allocation of funds to the Health boards in order to alleviate the situation. The North Eastern and Western Health Boards were each allocated £30,000 which will enable each board to complete courses of treatment for 50 of the top priority cases on its orthodontic waiting list.