Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 1991

Vol. 412 No. 5

Written Answers. - Dental Services for Medcal Card Holders.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

178 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the South Eastern Health Board have ceased to provide dental services for adult medical card holders; the reason services, to which medical card holders are entitled under the Health Acts, are being withheld from them; if he will outline when these services will be restored to medical card holders in the South Eastern Health Board region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

This year my Department provided a special allocation of £285,000 to the South-Eastern Health Board specifically to cover the provision of additional courses of routine dental treatment to eligible adults.

I understand from the health board that in the first six months of the year a total of approximately 2,800 additional courses of routine dental treatment to eligible adults were provided as a direct result of this special allocation. The issue of authorisations for adult treatments in a number of areas is currently being scaled down by the board until such time as the board has brought about improvements in their overall budgetary situation.

Treatment for pain, sepsis and emergency cases will continue to be provided by the board in all areas as required.