Vol. 487 No. 6
180 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will establish a training scheme to enable orthodontic staff to provide an efficient orthodontic service in the Eastern Health Board, while also attending academic lectures for specific periods. [5345/98]
189 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to ensure that there is a training pathway link with the dental hospital for staff in the eastern and other health boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4599/98]
191 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to difficulties experienced by the regional orthodontic consultant body in trying to establish training links with the Dublin Dental Hospital and the implications, if any, of this for the development of the public orthodontic service; the steps, if any, he will take to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4603/98]
192 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children his response to the submission (details supplied) from the health board orthodontic group. [4609/98]
193 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself that the Eastern Health Board is providing proper post graduate training and education for its staff who provide orthodontic treatment in relation to discharging its statutory obligations to provide this service for eligible patients; if he will lend his support to the efforts of the regional consultant body to establish training pathways with the Dublin Dental Hospital which would allow staff to provide an orthodontic service while attending lectures one day per fortnight at an academic institution in view of the fact the absence of this link will lead to links being established with dental hospitals outside the State as in the case of the North-Western and South-Eastern Health Boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4612/98]
199 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will propose post graduate training and education for staff providing orthodontic services within the health boards; if he will establish training pathways linking with the Dublin Dental Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4664/98]
201 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will ensure proper post graduate training and education for staff who provide orthodontic services; if he will facilitate calls by the health board orthodontic group, Regional Consultant Body, to establish training pathways linking with the Dublin Dental Hospital which would allow staff to continue to provide a valuable service in the Eastern Health Board while attending lectures one day per fortnight at an academic institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4673/98]
203 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions, if any, he has had with the Dublin Dental Hospital regarding a problem which has arisen between it and the Eastern Health Board in terms of providing a training programme for staff within the orthodontic service of the Eastern Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4837/98]
204 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, his Department has taken to provide for the proper training and education of postgraduate staff providing orthodontic treatment in the Eastern Health Board area; if his attention has been drawn to the efforts which have been made by the regional consultant body to establish a training programme with the Dental Hospital; if so, his views on these efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4838/98]
205 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing orthodontic needs in the Eastern Health Board area; if he has satisfied himself that waiting lists have the potential to be satisfactorily overhauled in view of the training programme organised by the regional consultant body in consultation with the Dublin Dental Hospital; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of those charged with the responsibility for the provision of an orthodontic service in the absence of a recognised link between those providing the service and the Dental Hospital; the plans, if any, he has to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4839/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 189, 191, 192, 193, 199, 201, 203, 204 and 205 together.
My Department has commenced discussions with the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board to review the entire organisational arrangements for orthodontic services in the Eastern Health Board area and the role of the Dublin Dental Hospital in the provision of training in orthodontics for health board staff.
I have also asked senior officials in my Department to meet with representatives of the Irish Consultants Orthodontic Group and to report back to me.
The Orthodontic Review Group set up by the chief executive officers of the health boards at the suggestion of my Department has also examined issues in relation to training in orthodontics. This group, which includes health board consultant orthodontists, is due to report to the chief executive officers in the near future.
I am concerned to ensure that the academic and training programme of both dental schools in orthodontics and other disciplines adequately reflect current and future needs of the public dental service under the health strategy and the dental health action plan. Following the developments which I have outlined I will, as necessary, consult with my colleague the Minister for Education and Science to achieve this objective.
