Vol. 418 No. 9
91 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the criteria which is being operated by the health boards throughout the country for the dental treatment of primary school students; if he will further outline the age students have to be before commencing treatment and the class in which they have to be; whether there is, in fact, dental treatment available for all primary school children at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the 1970 Health Act, national school going children are entitled to free dental treatment in respect of defects noted at health board dental examinations.
Health boards are now adopting a school based system for the delivery of dental services to school children in preference to a demand based system. The school based system ensures a more equitable distribution of the dental resources available. This approach aims to examine all children in specific classes and to provide treatment if necessary. The classes chosen are usually first or second and sixth. These classes are chosen with preventative treatments in mind and to ensure that children are dentally fit before they leave national school.
It is hoped that, in this way, children for whom a service was previously rarely, if ever, demanded and those in greatest need of dental care, will be screened, advised of the services available, educated in dental hygiene and referred for treatment as necessary. This development seeks to provide the optimum service to those in need, within the resources available.
All eligible children can, of course, avail of an emergency service for the relief of pain which is available on demand.
