Vol. 492 No. 7
216 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the inadequacy of orthodontic treatment available to children in the North-Western Health Board area and particularly County Donegal; the plans, if any, he has to improve this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14901/98]
The provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in County Donegal is the statutory responsibility of the North-Western Health Board.
Secondary care orthodontic services in County Donegal are provided at a specially designed department at Letterkenny General Hospital. Persons requiring orthodontic treatment are categorised by the board according to the severity of their condition. I am advised by the board that the most severe cases receive immediate treatment. The waiting period for other patients on the waiting list varies from 12 to 30 months.
As stated in my reply to the Deputy's Questions Nos. 558, 559 and 560, on 29 April 1998, I am not in a position at present, to approve additional posts for the board's orthodontic services. According to my Department's records, the North-Western Health Board already has its full allocation of orthodontic dental teams as provided under the dental health action plan.
