asked the Minister for Health the total number of dentures made for medical card patients in each of the past three years; and the total cost involved.
Written Answers. - Supply of Dentures.
408.
The total number of dentures, full and partial, supplied by health boards to eligible persons, amounted to 18,611 in 1975, 17,820 in 1976 and 16,821 in 1977.
The total amount charged by commercial laboratories for the supply of dentures to health boards was £186,292 in 1975, £221,685 in 1976 and £223,884 in 1977. The other cost elements involved, such as dentist's time and so on, are not readily calculable.
In addition, health boards refund the contributions paid by medical card holders and their adult dependants towards the cost of dentures obtained under the social welfare dental benefit scheme. These refunds amounted to £31,286 in 1975, to £40,046 in 1976 and to £36,725 in 1977. The total number of dentures involved was 1,996 in 1975, 2,119 in 1976 and 1,663 in 1977.
409.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of dentures made for social welfare contributors in each of the past three years; and the total cost involved.
A detailed breakdown of the various items of dental treatment provided for qualified insured persons under the dental benefit scheme is not maintained by my Department. A rough estimate indicates however that the number of full and partial dentures supplied in those years was of the order of 35,000 to 37,000. The cost to my Department in 1977 was in the region of £350,000.