asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate funds from the 1988 national lottery proceeds to the dental section of the North Eastern Health Board area for orthodontic treatment for the ever-increasing waiting lists, as only £14,600 has been allocated altogether for the County Meath area for this particular type of treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Orthodontic Treatment Funding.
47.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government announced on 19 November 1987 that a sum of £6 million was to be allocated to the health area. It was agreed at Government that this money would be expended on services for the physically and mentally handicapped; services for the elderly; psychiatric services; community information and development services; AIDS prevention services and, finally, on the improvement of services for cases of child sexual abuse.
In the circumstances I regret that I am not in a position to allocate any national lottery proceeds for the provision of orthodontic treatment.