Ned O'Keeffe
Question:93 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals he has to change the criteria which must be met in order that school children qualify for orthodontic treatment. [13359/01]
Written Answers - Orthodontic Service.
The provision of orthodontic treatment services is the statutory responsibility of the health boards. In 1985, my Department issued guidelines to health boards on the criteria applicable in assessing priority of need for specialist orthodontic treatment. The guidelines are based on the degree of handicap and severity of malocclusion which prioritises need for treatment.
The report of the review group on orthodontic services, The Moran Report, recommended that all health boards use the same severity index to determine need and that provision of orthodontic treatment should continue on the basis of priority need. There have been discussions between my Department and representatives of the health board chief executive officers on the report and its implications. Proposals in the report are being progressively implemented. Amendments to the 1985 guidelines are being finalised with the health board chief executive officers and the review group on orthodontic services.