There is no statutory obligation on health boards to provide chiropody services to medical card holders. I understand that health boards make arrangements for the provision of such services. The nature of the arrangements and the level of chiropody services provided are a matter for the individual boards.
As regards dental services, the Deputy will be aware that primary dental care for adult medical cardholders, that is persons, aged 16 years or over, is provided under the dental treatment services scheme, DTSS. This dental care is provided free of charge to medical card holders. In the main, private dental practitioners participating in the DTSS under contract arrangements with health boards provide this dental care. Salaried dentists from the health boards also provide some services under the scheme.
The objectives of the scheme are to improve the oral health of adult medical card holders and thereby reduce the equity gap between this population and the population as a whole by providing a high quality dental service, and to provide dental services to adult medical cardholders in a cost-effective and equitable manner.
My Department will, in the near future, embark on a review of the DTSS in conjunction with the health boards, the general medical services payments board and Irish Dental Association. This review will be aimed at ensuring that the aims of the scheme are being met and that the service to medical card holders is timely, appropriate and accessible and that the service provides best value for money.