Treatment Benefit Scheme Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 June 2016

Thursday, 9 June 2016

Questions (92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

92. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of restoring the six-monthly scale and polish entitlement under the dental treatment benefit scheme. [15141/16]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

93. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of restoring the extended gum cleaning entitlement under the dental treatment benefit scheme. [15142/16]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

94. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of restoring cover for fillings under the dental treatment benefit scheme. [15143/16]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

95. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on the six-monthly scale and polish entitlement under the dental treatment benefit scheme in 2009. [15144/16]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

96. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on the extended gum cleaning entitlement under the dental treatment benefit scheme in 2009. [15145/16]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

97. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on fillings under the dental treatment benefit scheme in 2009. [15146/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 to 97, inclusive, together.

All of these questions (PQ 15141 through to 15146-16) relate to expenditure on certain dental treatments in 2009 and the potential cost of re-introducing these treatments.

The treatments available under the dental benefit scheme were limited in Budget 2010 to an annual free dental examination. The cost in 2009 of the three treatments specifically referred to is detailed in the table below.

It should be noted that it is not possible to accurately project the potential cost of any reintroduction of these treatments, for a number of reasons:

1. Possible changes in dental attendance patterns,

2. Fees paid for the various treatments in 2009 may differ from the actual cost of these treatments in 2016, and

3. The effect that any pent-up demand would have on volumes availing of the scheme is unclear.

2009 Dental expenditure on selected dental treatments.

-	2009 cost (€m)
Scale and Polish (6 monthly)	€16.8 million
Extended Gum cleaning	€0.46 million
Fillings	€20.68 million

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.