Michael Ring
Question:171 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for orthodontic treatment. [25763/01]
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.
As the provision of orthodontic services to eligible persons in County Mayo is the statutory responsibility of the Western Health Board, I have asked the chief executive officer of that board to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
Michael Ring
Question:172 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make payments to parents of children on the list for orthodontic treatment to take their children to have treatment carried out privately. [25764/01]
The provision of orthodontic treatment is a matter for the health boards in the first instance.
Under the orthodontic initiative, my Department recently approved a proposed scheme from the Mid-Western Health Board to engage the services of private specialist orthodontic practitioners to treat patients. This scheme will facilitate similar arrangements in other boards.