asked the Minister for Health whether in view of the recently disclosed high incidence of cancer of the lip in the Republic and of its understood association with defective dental hygiene, he will take steps to ensure that adequate dental services are made readily available to those who need them and so help to eliminate to the extent that this is possible the incidence of this disease.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Services.
I am advised that the evidence available does not establish that defective dental hygiene as such is the sole, or the principal, cause of cancer of the lip.
If and when additional moneys can be made available for health services, which already cost the Exchequer and the local rates the not inconsiderable sum of £16,000,000 a year, the improvement of the public dental service will be considered in conjunction with other demands for improvement of the health services generally.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary not accept that defective dental hygiene is regarded as an important contributory factor in the causation of lip cancer?
It is not believed to be a significant factor. I cannot give any additional information.