Vol. 549 No. 2
92 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason there is no consistent dental service available to primary and post-primary school children in the greater north County Galway area; if other parts of County Galway have similar problems; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that children of parents on low incomes who have medical cards are unable to access such dental schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6134/02]
The provision of dental treatment to eligible persons in County Galway is the statutory responsibility of the Western Health Board in the first instance. All health boards, including the WHB, have adopted a planned targeted approach to the delivery of dental services to national school children. This is to ensure the optimum use of dental resources and equal access for all national school children to the same level of dental care.
Children in specific classes in national school, usually second, fourth and sixth class, are targeted for preventive measures under the school based approach; the children in these classes are screened and referred for treatment as necessary. The programme has been specifically designed to ensure that children are dentally fit before they leave national school. The screening provided in second, fourth and sixth classes ensures that follow-up appointments for examination, treatment or orthodontic review are made, as necessary, with the dental surgeon in the clinic designated for the particular schools. Under the Health Act, 1970 and the Health (Dental Services for Children) Regulations 2000, children who have attended national school retain eligibility for dental treatment up to their 16th birthday. Treatment is provided within the resources available to the health boards.
