Vol. 420 No. 7
74 Mr. V. Brady asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the very long waiting lists for orthodontic treatment for school children in the Eastern Health Board area, any arrangements are in place with private dentists to carry out this treatment to enable a substantial reduction in the waiting lists and, in particular, for those who are reaching school leaving age; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department have made additional allocations available to the Eastern Health Board over the past few years for the development of the board's specialist orthodontic services. These additional allocations have enabled the board to provide treatment for a substantial number of new cases. I understand from the board that at the end of 1991 the board was providing orthodontic treatment for 3,660 children.
In addition to the orthodontic services provided by its own staff and by arrangement with the Dublin Dental Hospital the board has arrangements with a number of private practitioners to provide specialist services. The board also hopes to fill the vacant post of consultant orthodontist within the next few months.
In addition to his/her clinical commitment a primary task of the new consultant will be to organise and coordinate orthodontic training to specialist and sub-specialist levels for the board's dental staff to enable the board to provide a greatly increased volume of service.
Children are entitled to receive orthodontic treatment even after they leave national school where the need for such treatment was diagnosed while they were still at national school.
