asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that medical card holders in Limerick city cannot get dental treatment and that the Mid-Western Health Board have stated that the reason for this is that they have not received any allocation; if he will have this matter investigated in view of the great distress being suffered by the people affected and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dental Treatment.
666.
The apportionment of funds from its overall financial allocation between the various services it provides is a matter for each individual health board. For economic reasons the Mid-Western Health Board has suspended the ad hoc dental scheme under which eligible adults were referred to private dental practitioners for treatment. The health board is satisfied that it can provide an adequate level of emergency treatment for eligible adults through its own dental staff.