asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that adequate funds are made available to the Western Health Board to enable the continuation of the adult choice-of-dentist schemes introduced by her predecessor.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Choice-of-Dentist Scheme.
17.
The annual budget for any particular health board service is a matter for determination by the individual health board subject to the containment of aggregate expenditure on its services within the approved overall non-capital allocation. Accordingly, the provision for the current year in respect of the scheme referred to by the Deputy was determined by the Western Health Board.
The question of the arrangements to be made for 1981 will be a matter for consideration later by the board having regard to its approved overall level of non-capital allocation for that year.
Does the Minister of State agree then that this service has been suspended for the time being by the Western Health Board?
This is a problem peculiar to the Western and Southern Health Boards. The Deputy should be aware that expenditure of a non-capital nature is a matter for the health boards, not for the Minister, from the block allocation they receive at the commencement of the financial year.
Is the Minister confirming then that there is a service which has been suspended? When I asked the Minister in Question No. 3 about the matter I was told no service had been suspended. I should like the House to know that a service has been suspended.
The Western Health Board suspended the issuing of authorisation for the choice-of-dentist arrangement in September 1981 but they will honour authorisation issued already and will continue to provide services for those who require emergency treatment. New applicants are being put on a waiting list and it is intended to resume the issuing of authorisation in January 1982 when funds become available again. A sum of £217,000 had been set aside by the boards for the scheme in 1981.
I have some compassion for the unfortunate position in which the Minister of State finds himself in this instance, but the answers we have had here today have contained reference continually to items that are being reviewed and to the resources available to the Department. Would the Minister not agree that it is obvious now that not alone have the health services been suspended in some areas but that there are areas in which they have come to a standstill? Is it not high time that the Minister demanded the resources he needs in order to provide an adequate health service?
There is nothing peculiar or strange about the statement I have made because it is the procedure to review the service in question each year. This will be done at the beginning of 1982 when funds will become available. In this respect we are acting in accordance with normal procedure.