Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:1972. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing free dental care for all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41511/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 July 2022
Questions (1972, 1980)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:1980. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost in 2023 of reinstating all the benefits that were available under the dental treatment services scheme before the economic crash; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41520/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1972 and 1980 together.
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE.
As part of Budget 2010 measures, the range of treatments provided under the Scheme was reduced in order to cap expenditure at the 2008 level of €63 million. The cost of restoring treatments which had been provided before 2010 or the cost of providing free dental care to the whole population would depend on a number of factors, including the underlying oral health of the population and the level of take-up of such services. An additional €10 million in Budget 2022 has been provided for expanded dental care in the DTSS, including the reintroduction of Scale and Polish and an enhanced oral health examination.
The national approach to future oral health service provision will be informed by Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy (2019). The aim of the policy is to develop a model of care that will enable preventative approaches to be prioritised, improve access, and support interventions appropriate to current and future oral health needs. Work is underway to design a governance framework to oversee and facilitate root and branch service reform.