Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 5

Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.

Noel Ahern

Question:

122 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in relation to the orthodontic services in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area, in recent months he has given the Eastern Regional Health Authority approval to use private orthodontists; if he has given or received any indication of improvement to the long waiting lists; if he has, or will take some serious initiative to tackle this problem; and the reason no one has been called for assessment in two years. [4364/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I have long recognised that the waiting times for orthodontic treatment are unacceptably long. Following recommendations in the Moran report, review of orthodontic services, structural changes are being introduced in the orthodontic services. However, it will be some time before these structural changes impact significantly on service levels. Consequently, I asked health boards to develop proposals to make an immediate significant impact on their waiting lists. An additional investment of £5.3 million has been approved for orthodontic services this year, of which £3.7 million is to fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority received an additional investment of £2.34 million in 2001 for orthodontic services. I understand that the authority isinter alia recruiting additional orthodontic staff which will address the delay in calling patients for assessment caused, in part, by a shortage of qualified orthodontists in their region.

As part of this initiative, my Department has approved a proposal from the Eastern Regional Health Authority for a grant-in-aid scheme. Under the scheme, patients who meet the criteria laid down for non-urgent routine treatment would be given the option of availing of treatment from a private orthodontic practitioner. A grant of 50% of the board's overall estimated cost of treatment would be paid. Parents could also avail of tax credits on the balance where appropriate. A grant of 100% of the board's estimated cost of treatment would be paid in respect of medical card holders.

The scheme will operate on a pilot basis in the Northern Area Health Board for 12 months. A working group on the implementation of the scheme within the board is being established. The group has set a target date of 1 April this year for the implementation of the pilot scheme.