Vol. 411 No. 2
4 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Social Welfare the progress which has been made since 10 July 1991 in regard to seeking a settlement with the Irish Dental Association regarding the provision of dental treatment to the spouses of insured workers; the number of dentists currently providing such services and the number who are refusing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
19 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline in relation to the dental scheme for spouses of insured workers: (1) the number of dentists currently providing treatment under this scheme in each county, (2) the number of patients in each county treated under this scheme since its inception and (3) the most recent date on which his Department conducted negotiations with the dentists who are in dispute in relation to this scheme; and the current status of these negotiations.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 19 together.
Since October 1987 when the dental benefit scheme was extended to cover dependent spouses of insured workers, 285 dentists have signed the new agreement to provide treatment for that group. Allowing for retirements, resignations, deaths, etc., since then, that number is currently 250. The total number of dentists on the Department's dental panel at present is 700. A table setting out the information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of dentists estimated to be treating dependent spouses in each county will be circulated in the Official Report.
A breakdown of the number of dental benefit claims received in respect of dependent spouses in each county since the extension of the scheme to this category is not readily available. A total of 100,729 applications for treatment under the dental benefit scheme have been received from dependent spouses; 86,715 claims have been approved for payment to date at a cost of £4.8 million.
Since my last statement on the matter in July of this year, discussions have been continuing between the Irish Dental Association and officials of my Department in an effort to bring this dispute to an end. Meetings were held in September and early October. These discussions have centred around outstanding issues in relation to the drawing up of a new dental agreement and a revised scale of fees for dental services. The discussions are now in their final stages and I am hopeful that a successful outcome will emerge.
Dental Panel
Dentists with Spouse Agreement
|
County |
Dentists |
|
Dublin |
77 |
|
Offaly |
4 |
|
Westmeath |
6 |
|
Carlow |
3 |
|
Kildare |
9 |
|
Louth |
16 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
|
Monaghan |
8 |
|
Donegal |
18 |
|
Sligo |
— |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
|
Longford |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
|
Galway |
8 |
|
Laois |
— |
|
Kilkenny |
4 |
|
Tipperary |
6 |
|
Limerick |
4 |
|
Clare |
4 |
|
Waterford |
2 |
|
Kerry |
9 |
|
Cork |
50 |
|
Meath |
6 |
|
Wicklow |
4 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
|
Total |
250 |
I am sadly disappointed that the Minister has not been able to resolve this dispute that has been running since 1987. This is a four year strike by the Irish Dental Association. There are about 200,000 spouses, mainly women, who are affected by this dispute. Not only are insured workers being charged for dental treatment they are entitled to by virtue of their insurance, but their spouses are being charged for treatment for which they are covered under their spouses' PRSI. How can the Minister say that progress is being made, when there are only 250 dentists out of a panel of 700 operating the scheme? When I was here last asking this question there were 276 operating the scheme so the numbers are decreasing. Finally, will the Minister reassure the House, given his obligation in operating the PRSI scheme on behalf of people who are on social welfare who have paid PRSI, that he will have this scheme signed, sealed and delivered and operating to the benefit of those who are entitled to it before Christmas.
The scheme was an extension to spouses of the existing scheme. I thought the Deputy might be pleased to see that over 100,000 claims have been dealt with and 86,700 have been completed entirely at this stage. In that sense there are some 100,000 people who have benefited from it. The Deputy will be aware that the dental association as a body have opposed this scheme from the beginning. Nevertheless we have been able to provide treatment for that number of people. In the meantime, the discussions on a possible new agreement are practically at the final stages. There is still the cost of any new agreement to be considered.
