Gay Mitchell
Question:1189 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 is entitled to dental treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17082/02]
Written Answers. - Dental Service.
The statutory background governing the entitlement of children to dental treatment under the health board dental service is section 67 of the Health Act, 1970. Under this section, the children eligible for health board dental services are pre-school and national school children in respect of defects noted at child health examinations. Child health examinations are provided by health boards to children attending a national school.
There is provision under section 66(3) of the Act for a health board, at its discretion, to provide child health examinations to children attending a school that is not a national school. Such discretion may be applied once the governing body of the school so requests. The provision of dental services in this instance is the statutory responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA. On receipt of an application under section 66(3) of the Health Act, 1970, the chief executive officer may discharge the statutory provisions of section 66(3).