Vol. 512 No. 5
92 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon is not entitled to the provision of dentures from the Western Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26533/99]
As the provision of dental treatment to eligible persons in Roscommon is the statutory responsibility of the Western Health Board in the first instance I have asked the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply to the Deputy directly as a matter of urgency.
93 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to review dental regulations regarding the qualifications for dentures in view of the fact that a person is only entitled to dentures if they have no teeth and are not considered for either an upper or lower plate if they have any natural teeth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26534/99]
At present, medical card holders in the age categories from 16-34 and from 65+ are entitled under the dental treatment services scheme to routine dental treatment which includes the provision of denture treatment.
I propose to extend routine treatment under the scheme to all adults with medical card entitlements as and from 1 January 2000 subject to a satisfactory resolution with the Irish Dental Association of some outstanding issues in relation to the scheme.
