Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Oct 2001

Vol. 543 No. 1

Written Answers. - Orthodontic Service.

Billy Timmins

Question:

42 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people on waiting lists for orthodontic assessment in each health board area; the number of children and the number of adults; and the comparative figures on the same basis for assessment waiting lists for the past three years. [25522/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The provision of orthodontic services is the responsibility of the health boards in the first instance. The chief executive officers of the health boards have informed me that the numbers of patients awaiting assessment in their areas of responsibility at the end of the September 2001 quarter were as follows:

Health Board	Assessment Waiting List
ERHA	11,781
Midland	377
Mid-Western	3,380
North-Eastern	Nil
North-Western	1,210
South-Eastern	257
Southern	5,962
Western	719

The chief executive officers of the health boards have also informed me of the following information on orthodontic assessment waiting lists for the past three years:

Health Board	1998	1999	2000
EHB/ERHA	10,985	Not available	10,283
Midland	709	502	407
Mid-Western	Not available	2,694	2,671
North-Eastern	Nil	Nil	Nil
North-Western	Not available	Not available	380
South-Eastern	Not available	586	238
Southern*	5,000	5,000	5,000
Western	442	387	509

*Approximate figures in respect of the Southern Health Board's assessment waiting list.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of children and adults on the waiting lists is not routinely collected by my Department. I have therefore asked the chief executive officers of the health boards to reply directly to the Deputy with this information.