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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 1

Written Answers. - Health Screening.

Richard Bruton

Question:

376 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the optical care service which is provided for children of school-going age; if he has satisfied himself that this service is providing the necessary range of care to meet the needs of children at this important age; and his proposals for further development of the service. [3536/03]

The provision of a school health service for children in primary schools, one element of which comprises vision screening, is the statutory responsibility of the health boards. This service was the subject of a review by the chief executive officers of the health boards which resulted in the launching of "Best Health for Children" report in 1999. The core programme for child health surveillance set out in the report provides for vision screening in national schools in senior infants, second class and sixth class. The report emphasises the need for adequate training of key professionals, provision and maintenance of appropriate referral and timely and effective treatment services as essential components of the school health service. Additional funding in the region of €2 million was allocated to the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, in 2001 and 2002 to assist in the implementation of the recommendations set out in the "Best Health for Children". Further funding of €700,000 was allocated to the boards and the ERHA in 2003 in order to facilitate, in particular, the development and implementation of a national standardised training and development programme in child health screening for health board doctors and public health nurses.

A national conjoint child health committee, established by the chief executive officers of the health boards, is currently overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the recommendations. Children referred from the school health vision screening service to specialist ophthalmology services provided within the public health service are treated without charge.

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