Kathleen Lynch
Question:494 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will publish in advance of its implementation the secret deal which she is at present negotiating with the Irish Dental Association. [5311/03]
Written Answers - Dental Benefit Scheme.
Kathleen Lynch
Question:495 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of money which has been saved by her Department in respect of the dental scheme which the taxpayer has already paid for; and her plans in regard to this money. [5312/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 495 together.
The Deputy will, I am sure, appreciate the need for proposals worked out in discussions aimed at ending a dispute to remain confidential to the parties to the discussions while the proposals are the subject of a ballot. There is no question of a secret deal in this matter, nor could there be in relation to proposals which have implications for charges under a statutory scheme.
I am happy to say that the detailed proposals aimed at ending the dispute affecting the dental benefit scheme have been accepted by members of the Irish Dental Association. As a result it is expected that all dentists who participated in the dental benefit scheme in the past will resume doing so and that patients will have the degree of choice which they enjoyed before the dispute began.
Under the settlement, oral examination and scale and polish treatments will continue to be available to patients free of charge. In addition, extractions will continue to be provided as heretofore on a fixed fee basis for those earning under €45,000. The cost to the patient will increase by 10% in respect of these treatments as will the contribution by my Department towards the costs of these treatments. This means that a patient will pay nothing extra for oral examination or scale and polish but will pay an extra €1.08 for extractions.
In the case of fillings, the Department's contribution towards the costs of each filling increases by 10%, or for example, from €26.54 to €29.20 in the case of a simple amalgam filling.
The cost to the patient will be the normal private fee, less 15%, less the Department's contribution –€29.20 in the case of a simple amalgam filling.
The cost of other treatments, such as dentures, also increases by 10% as does my Department's contribution towards the costs of these treatments. The increase in the fees payable takes account of the fact that fees under the scheme were not increased last year. The settlement also involves a review of the scheme under an independent chair.
The impact of the dispute cannot be fully assessed until a resolution is achieved and treatments which may have been deferred pending a settlement are carried out. Expenditure on dental benefit in 2002 amounted to €35.1 million compared to €35 million in 2001. Dental benefit is financed from the social insurance fund which operates separately from general taxation.