Vol. 410 No. 2
194 Mr. M. Ahern asked the Minister for Health (a) the reason no class in St. Mary's girls national school, Carrigtwohill, County Cork, received a dental examination this year, (b) the number of schools which have had dental examinations this year and (c) whether the same prevails for all schools in east Cork.
I understand from the Southern Health Board that arrangements are in train by the board's dental services to commence treatment of the children who have now finished sixth class of St. Mary's national school, Carrigtwohill, County Cork, and it is expected that treatment will be completed by the end of September 1991.
There are 349 national schools in Cork. The policy of the Southern Health Board is that children in certain classes would be inspected and treated on an annual basis under the schools' dental programme. The board have found it difficult to achieve this target in all cases. However, treatment of target groups has increased as a result of the additional funds provided in the 1990 and 1991 budgets.
In East Cork the position is as follows: Youghal Dental Clinic: ten schools — it is expected that all children in first and sixth classes will be seen during 1991; Cobh Dental Clinic: seven schools — it is expected that all children in sixth class and a number in first and third classes will be seen during 1991; and Midleton Dental Clinic: it is expected that all children in sixth class and a majority of first class will be seen during 1991.
