Vol. 443 No. 6
61 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, he has to improve and widen the guidelines under which the free orthodontic treatment scheme is operated by the health boards, in particular in relation to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is the experience here and in most developed countries that demand for orthodontic treatment exceeds real need where the service is provided free of charge.
Accordingly, my Department has asked health boards to apply certain objective criteria in assessing degrees of priority of need for specialist orthodontic treatment on the basis of degree of handicap and severity of malocclusion. I am satisfied that these criteria continue to be fair and relevant, and not in need of review at this stage.
I have asked the South Eastern Health Board to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the individual case which she has raised.
