Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 5

Written Answers. - Orthodontic Treatment.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

134 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have been placed on the referral list for orthodontic treatment by the Primary Dental Health Service in the Western Health Board area, received appointments with the consultant orthodontist to the Western Health Board in 1994; and the way in which many of these were deemed to fall short of the Department of Health criteria regarding orthodontic treatment; the average delay between the referral by the Primary Dental Health Service and the appointment with the consultant orthodontist.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

As the provision of orthodontic treatment in the Western Health Board area is the responsibility of the Western Health Board, I have asked the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board to reply to the Deputy with the information requested as a matter of urgency.

As I recently announced in the National Health Strategy the deficiencies in the public dental service will be tackled over the next four years in the context of an integrated dental development plan based on the principles of equity, quality of service and accountability.

At present my Department is addressing the detailed resource requirements for the phased implementation of the dental plan in conjunction with the health boards. My Department is in consultation with the Western Health Board regarding their requirements with a view to commencing the development plan for their area this year and over the period of the Programme for a Partnership Government as resources allow.