Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Mar 1995

Vol. 450 No. 8

Written Answers. - Dental Treatment for NHS Patients.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

69 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Eastern Health Board has frozen the waiting list for medical card holders seeking dentures; the plans, if any, he has to reopen the list; and the plans, if any, he has to clear the present log-jam. [5802/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan

Limerick East): Under the new dental treatment services scheme which was introduced by my Department on 1 November 1994 dental treatment for all adults with medical care eligibility will be phased in over a four year period.

In the initial phasing of the scheme persons aged 65 years and over have been identified as a priority group. Additional resources have been made available to health boards to enable them provide dental treatment, including denture treatment for this group. Emergency dental treatment for the relief of pain is, of course, available to all medical card holders irrespective of age.

Since the scheme commenced the Eastern Health Board has arranged for the provision of full dentures to over 750 persons. The board has reduced the level of approvals for full denture treatment pending a detailed review of expenditure trends under the scheme.