Vol. 483 No. 4
99 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of adults and children who are on the waiting lists for treatment under the dental treatment services scheme in County Wicklow; and the length of time they have been awaiting this treatment. [20664/97]
The dental treatment services scheme is a scheme designed for the provision of dental treatment services for adults — persons aged 16 years and over — with medical card entitlement. The scheme was introduced by my Department on 1 November 1994 under the dental health action plan and is being implemented on a phased basis.
Under the scheme emergency dental treatment for the relief of pain is available to all adult medical card holders who may attend any private dentist under contract with the health boards, if in pain and in need of emergency treatment.
Under phases 1 and 2 of the scheme, which are currently in operation, routine dental treatment has been extended to adults in the 16-34 age group and to adults aged 65 years and over, and the provision of full dentures for all edentulous medical card holders.
I will extend routine dental treatment to the 35-64 age group as additional resources become available.
I have been advised by the Eastern Health Board that, at present, all applications from eligible persons in the Wicklow area for routine treatment under the dental treatment services scheme are authorised for treatment by the health board within 30 days of application.
The waiting list at the end of October was as follows: 16-34 year olds — 89 for routine treatment; over 65 — 27 for routine treatment and 22 for dentures.
