Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Feb 2003

Vol. 560 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Richard Bruton

Question:

454 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the initiative she is taking to seek a resolution of the dispute with the Dental Association; and her views on the fact that her Department continues to collect insurance contributions from workers for dental benefit despite the fact that she is refusing to make any payments from the fund for eligible work covered by the insurance scheme. [2345/03]

Seán Haughey

Question:

458 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the efforts she is making to solve the dentists' dispute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2559/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 458 together.

To benefit under the dental benefit scheme, an insured worker must be treated by a dentist who has entered into an agreement with my Department to provide treatments under the scheme on a contract basis and at fees specified in the agreement. Under these arrangements and with limited exceptions, treatments are provided to the patient either free of charge or at a reduced fee and the Department pays the balance of the cost directly to the dentist at the agreed rates. Patients who are treated by dentists outside these contract arrangements are not entitled to dental benefit under the scheme.

While some dentists have not been prepared to treat patients within these contracts, the scheme has continued to operate and dental treatment has been provided by dentists who have adhered to their contracts. Insured workers have been advised, during this dispute, to check that their dentist was continuing to operate within his contract with the Department and in the event that their dentist was not doing so, they were advised to use my Departments LoCall service 1890-400-400 to get details of dentists adhering to the agreed fees for treatments. Patients were also advised that the Department would not be in a position to refund any costs arising from treatment provided to them as private patients.

I have had discussions with representatives of the Irish Dental Association on 28 January 2003 with a view to resolving the current dispute affecting the dental benefit scheme. A further meeting at official level is due to be held within the next ten days. I am confident that it will be possible to achieve a resolution of the dispute in the near future.