asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is satisfied with the present level of dental services provided for insured persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Services.
21.
A full range of dental treatments is available to qualified insured persons under the dental benefit scheme administered by my Department. The majority of treatments, including scalings, fillings and other treatment of teeth and gums, as well as extractions, are provided free of charge. A fixed subvention is paid by my Department towards the cost of certain items, such as crowns, inlays, bridges and chrome cobalt dentures. In the case of ordinary dentures my Department pay one-third of the overall cost, which is fixed in accordance with the scale of fees agreed with the Irish Dental Association.
I am aware that in certain areas there are complaints about the services available and every effort is being made to improve the situation in these areas.
The Minister will be aware that recently a number of dentists have opted out of the scheme because they claim the scale of fees is inadequate. It was for that reason I asked the Minister if he was satisfied with the level of services being provided.
There are two ways of looking at the Deputy's question and I endeavoured to answer from both points of view. One interpretation is that the Deputy was concerned with the level of service included in the scheme. The other, I presume, is whether the service is actually operative in all areas.
It was the other.
With regard to the latter, I am aware that some dentists are not prepared to operate the scheme under the scale of charges agreed by their own association.
The Minister will be aware that the increase negotiated with his officials amounted to 12 per cent but the subsequent award was 10 per cent. The agreement negotiated between his officials and the Irish Dental Association amounted to 12 per cent.
The 10 per cent was awarded by the Prices Commission over whom none of us has any control.
The agreement between the Minister's officials and the Irish Dental Association was 12 per cent and that is why the dentists are opting out of the scheme.
A Cheann Comhairle, could I ask you before 3.30 p.m. if I can raise on the Adjournment the question of the administration of the traffic wardens scheme in Dublin city?
I will communicate with the Deputy.