Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 4

Written Answers. - Waiting List for Dental Treatment.

Phil Hogan

Question:

109 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting orthodontic treatment in the Carlow/ Kilkenny Community Care area at the end of December 1990; when this list will be radically reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Phil Hogan

Question:

114 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on the dental treatment waiting list for the Carlow/Kilkenny community care area at the end of December 1990; if he has any plans to alleviate this waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 109 and 114 together.

I am advised by the South-Eastern Health Board that there were 750 adults on the waiting list for dental treatment in Carlow/Kilkenny while 592 children were awaiting secondary care orthodontic treatment at the end of December 1990.

A special allocation of £3 million was made to the health boards in 1990 to bring about improvements in these services. This extra allocation enabled the health boards to provide over 23,000 additional dental treatments and over 2,500 additional orthodontic treatments. In the South-Eastern Health Board approximately 2,100 additional treatments were provided. A further £3 million is being provided to the health boards for the same purpose in the current year and I am confident that the improvement in services will be sustained this year.