asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware of the suffering caused to children recommended for teeth extraction under the school inspection scheme because of the apparent practice of having these extractions carried out in bad climatic conditions in winter time even though the inspection may have been made many months earlier; and that children in the Millstreet, Cappagh, Cappoquin area, County Waterford, have been badly affected by this practice; and whether he will take steps to ensure that as far as practicable such extractions are carried out during the summer months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Dental Scheme.
11.
I am not so aware. I am advised that there are no clinical reasons for confining dental extractions for school children to any particular time of the year. In any event, it would not be desirable, in many instances, to defer necessary treatment, including extractions, to the summer period.
Surely the Minister will agree that the extraction of teeth in respect of children——
The Deputy may put a question. We cannot have a statement or a speech on this.
I am asking the Minister if he would not agree that the extraction of teeth of very young children must cause unnecessary hardship during inclement and particularly severe cold weather?
It would be quite impractical to confine extractions to the summer months in this or, as far as I know, a great many other countries.