Vol. 418 No. 7
204 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Health the number of people on the waiting list for adult dental treatment under his Department's dental scheme; if he will give details of the amount of funding available for this scheme in 1992; whether this funding will be adequate to eliminate the long waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The provision of dental treatment to medical card holders and their dependants is the responsibility of the relevant health board. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. However, I have asked each health board to supply me with the information and I will be in communication with the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Deputy will be aware that approximately £2 million has been provided each year by my Department since 1990 to supplement the amounts already being spent by the health boards on the provision of adult dental services. This has resulted in a significant increase in the number of adult medical card holders that receive treatment.
