asked the Minister for Health the number of calls made to each school in County Wexford by the South Eastern Health Board optician during the past two years; and the improvement he proposes to make in this important field.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Optician Calls.
13.
The provision of ophthalmic services for national school pupils in County Wexford is the responsibility of the South Eastern Health Board.
The health board do not employ an optician to sight test these children. However, under the child health examination service the schools are visited at intervals by the board's school health staff who examine the pupils for eye defects. Those found to require further specialist examination for eye defects are referred to the board's ophthalmologist.
I am advised by the health board that, of the 111 national schools in County Wexford, eye examinations were carried out by the board's school health staff in 39 of the schools in 1975 and in the remaining 72 schools in 1976.
In accordance with departmental policy, the board's aim is to carry out such examinations annually in all national schools in the area.
In the case of a defect being discovered during a school examination will the services of the ophthalmologist be free?
Yes.
If the child has transferred from primary to post-primary school before the service is available— in other words, if he is in the queue for treatment—will the services of the ophthalmologist still be free?
Yes. So far as I am aware the treatment continues if it has been started at the primary school.