Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 July 2020
275. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in reinstating the budget for the Dental Treatment Services Scheme to pre-economic crisis levels since the adoption of Sláintecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17869/20]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental treatments to medical card holders. In 2010, at the request of the Department of Health, the HSE introduced changes to the Scheme to cap expenditure at the 2008 level of €63 million. Theses changes still apply, although people considered high risk are provided with additional care. Expenditure on the DTSS is linked to demand.
Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy, published in April 2019, sets out the new model of care delivery for dental services. It includes proposals for the introduction of packages of oral healthcare for adult medical card holders at different intervals during their life course. The packages will focus on prevention and will include examinations, advice, and preventive therapies such as scale and polish. The timeframe for the delivery of the Policy is up to 2026 and the roll-out of these packages of care will take place incrementally over the next number of years. Routine care including fillings and complex care will continue to be available.
