Vol. 550 No. 1
120 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children if free dentures are available under a medical card for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and the reason this person would be turned down by the Northern Area Health Board. [7430/02]
Responsibility for the provision of dental treatment to eligible persons in Dublin 9 rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. All medical card holders over the age of 16 years are eligible for primary dental care services under the dental treatment services scheme or DTSS. This scheme provides a range of treatments, including the provision of dentures. From 1 July 2001, the scheme was extended to all persons over 70 years of age and in 2002, I made available an additional €6.166 million to the scheme to meet an increased uptake. The question of how much the person concerned would have to pay under the treatment benefits scheme is a matter for the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. My Department has asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.
