asked the Minister for Health the number of dental surgeons participating in (a) the social welfare benefit services and (b) the school health services; if he will state the dental services available under the health services, to whom they are available and the proposals he has to improve them; and the total cost of these services in each of the past five years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Services.
17.
There are (a) 526 dental surgeons participating in the dental benefit scheme administered by the Department of Social Welfare for qualified insured persons, and (b) 167 wholetime dental surgeons and some 100 part-time dental surgeons—the equivalent of about 20 wholetime dental surgeons—employed by health boards on providing dental services, mainly for national school children and preschool children referred under the child health services.
Dental services provided by health boards comprise the normal range of treatments for children, including, in particular, fillings and, where necessary, extractions. Subject to the priority given to children, dental services are provided for adults who are holders of medical cards and meet a demand mainly for extractions and dentures. It has been the policy to improve these services by making additional appointments. The number of wholetime dentists is now 167, as against 116 in 1970. The need for further development of this policy in the future will be considered.
The total cost of dental services provided by the health boards or local authorities in each of the last five financial years was as follows:
|
Year |
£ |
|
1969-1970 |
538,000 |
|
1970-1971 |
668,800 |
|
1971-1972 |
873,400 |
|
1972-1973 |
1,100,000 |
|
1973-1974 |
1,500,000 |
Would the Minister not agree that there is an urgent need for a review of the entire dental services, which are far from adequate? Would he not look at the problem from the point of view of the number of dental surgeons who are qualified, which is inadequate for the needs of the dental services? Would he consider setting up some type of committee to establish our priorities in this and what the cost would be of providing proper dental health services for the country?
There are at present discussions going on between the Irish Dental Association and the Department of Health with regard to the subjects the Deputy mentioned.
When can we expect an announcement regarding the future of the Cork Dental Hospital?
This seems to be a separate question.
It is directly related.
It is one for the Minister for Education rather than the Minister for Health.
Is it still Deputy Burke?
Is the Minister talking to him?