asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the advisability of arranging for short lectures on dental hygiene at quarterly intervals in all primary schools throughout the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Hygiene: School Lectures.
4.
The giving of lectures on dental hygiene in primary schools is primarily a matter for arrangement by local health authorities as part of their school health service. Having regard to other pressing demands on the services of school health staff, including dental staff, and to the number, 4,800 approximately, of primary schools in the country it would not be feasible for these authorities to arrange for the giving of such lectures as frequently as at quarterly intervals. However, I should like to assure the Deputy that I regard instruction on dental care to be an essential feature of a progressive public dental service for children and that it is my policy to urge health authorities to make lectures and talks on dental hygiene a regular feature of the school health service.
The Deputy is, I presume, already aware from my reply to a question by Deputy Ryan, on 24th November, 1960, that my Department has a standing arrangement with the National Film Institute for the showing of suitable health films, including two films on dental care, to children in schools throughout the country. I am at present considering how best to make use of the available facilities for giving further instruction on dental care to children in schools and clinics with the object of making recommendations to health authorities on the subject.
Could the Minister indicate whether these films are available in primary schools throughout rural Ireland?
I am afraid I did not catch the first part of the Deputy's question.
The Minister mentioned in his reply that films on dental care are available. Could the Minister tell me if those films are shown in primary schools throughout rural Ireland?
The information I have is that the films available by a standing arrangement with the National Film Institute are so shown and are available.