Dental Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Questions (3130)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

3130. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that orthodontic treatment for children in County Carlow in the public system is only being carried out on an emergency basis in view of the fact private patients are able to access orthodontic treatment easily; if he will request the HSE for the reason a child in County Carlow was referred five years ago for orthodontic treatment via the HSE school dentist and is still awaiting an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40369/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services.

Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.