asked the Minister for Health if there are any proposals for a free denture scheme for holders of medical cards in County Wexford.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wexford Free Denture Scheme.
191.
The County Wexford Health Authority are not yet in a position to provide dentures for all the people who are entitled to such a service because of a shortage of dental staff. The health authority have of necessity to allocate the major portion of available dental resources to the treatment of school children and preference is then given in the provision of dentures to certain people in the lower income group who on medical grounds are entitled to priority treatment.
One of the three wholetime dental surgeon posts approved for County Wexford is still vacant and the Local Appointments Commissioners were unable to recommend a candidate for the post from a recent competition held by them. Until sufficient dental personnel are available it will not be possible to provide a denture service for all eligible adults in the lower income group in County Wexford. A limited denture service is being provided at present for certain people in the lower income group who, on medical grounds, are entitled to priority treatment.
I have recently reviewed the conditions of service of public dental officers and as a result of my review the conditions have been further improved. I am hopeful that the new conditions will attract suitable candidates for the vacant posts in the public dental service. A fresh competition, under the new conditions, will be held by the Local Appointments Commissioners shortly and I hope that the Wexford post will be filled as a result of this competition.