Vol. 550 No. 4
392 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; if his Department will cover a portion of the cost involved; and if there is a scheme available from the South Eastern Health Board or his Department to assist this person's parents financially. [8807/02]
Last year additional funding of €6.729 million was provided by my Department for orthodontic services, of which €4.698 million was for an orthodontic initiative. This initiative is enabling health boards to recruit additional staff, develop new treatment facilities and engage the services of private specialist orthodontic practitioners to treat persons who have been assessed with a treatment need under guidelines issued by my Department. A grant-in-aid scheme such as that described by the Deputy in respect of persons assessed with a treatment need was previously proposed by the Northern Area Health Board of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. However, the board has received legal advice to the effect that such a scheme would conflict with the statutory provisions of the Health Act, 1970.
Responsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in County Carlow rests with the South Eastern Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.
