Vol. 480 No. 6
260 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Cork can have her application for orthodontic treatment reassessed; and if he will review his Department's guidelines in order that secondary care orthodontic treatment can become available to further applicants. [14367/97]
As the provision of orthodontic treatment for eligible persons in County Cork is the statutory responsibility of the Southern Health Board, I have asked the chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board to investigate the case and to reply to the Deputy directly as a matter of urgency.
My Department, in consultation with the health boards and their consultant orthodontists, is currently reviewing the guidelines for the provision of orthodontic treatment which were issued by my Department in 1985.
The objective of this review is to ensure equity in the provision of orthodontic treatment throughout the health boards having regard to the additional resources provided to health boards over the past few years under the Dental Health Action Plan for developments in orthodontic services.
