asked the Minister for Social Welfare in view of the embargo by certain dentists on the extension to the dependent spouses of the dental benefit scheme operated by his Department and the consequent delays being experienced by the public, if he will outline the action he proposes to take to ensure that essential dental care is available to those who are entitled to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Care.
40.
The extension of the social insurance treatment benefits scheme to the dependent spouses of insured persons commenced on 19 October 1987, so it is now just over a year in operation. In that period my Department have received 68,000 claims for benefits by dependent spouses under the extension. This figure includes claims for dental and optical benefits and for benefit towards the cost of hearing aids. The total number of dental claims submitted under the extension was 29,000.
It is evident from the numbers of claims that the extension has been successful. Unfortunately, the Irish Dental Association continues to oppose the extension. Notwithstanding the embargo, however, 178 dentists signed the new agreement covering the extended scheme.
There are approximately 1,080,000 insured persons and approximately 314,000 dependent spouses eligible for treatment under the treatment benefits scheme. The increasing number of dentists now active within the scheme has ensured the continuance of a good level of service in the situation of the expanded number of eligible persons.
The continuing embargo by the association against the treatment of dependent spouses under the dental benefit scheme is undoubtedly causing inconvenience to some dependent spouses who are living a distance from participating dentists. In order to minimise this inconvenience, I arranged from the outset for my Department to supply the names of their nearest participating dentists to dependent spouses who wish to claim dental benefit. Dependent spouses can obtain these names by contacting their local social welfare office or by telephoning the Department. These arrangements have been in effect from the start and are operating well.
In an effort to resolve the present difficulties, I agreed to set up a joint working group consisting of representatives of my Department and of the Irish Dental Association. The working group which examined all aspects of the social insurance dental benefit scheme concluded its study in July last. The working group made a number of detailed recommendations which I am considering but there was no agreement in fundamental issues on the basis of which the Irish Dental Association would recommend participation in the extended scheme by all their members. Unfortunately, the central barriers against reaching agreement have turned out to be the level of fees paid to the dentists under the whole scheme and the apparent position on the part of the Irish Dental Association on the existence at all of such a broadly-based scheme for workers and their dependent spouses under the PRSI system.
I feel sure I will have the co-operation of Deputy Harney in trying to dispose of the other questions before the prescribed time.
Yes, certainly, a Cheann Comhairle. I have a number of questions which I would like to ask the Minister arising from his reply. Is the figure of 29,000 for dental care in respect of treatment or in respect of claims for approval for treatment? Second, would the Minister agree that it would be more appropriate if the scheme were operated by the Department of Health, since it is essentially a health-related matter? Finally, would the Minister agree that it is unsatisfactory that so much treatment is excluded from the scheme, such as preventive dental care, root treatment and so on and would he consider making treatments of this kind available under the scheme?
I was hoping for brief questions.
I will answer the final part of the question first. The extension of the scheme would have financial implications and that is the basic problem. The figure of 29,000 refers to the number of claims being processed and treatment is ongoing. The number of treatments completed would be approximately 26,000. I might add, of course, that the numbers were smaller in the early stages but have become much greater as the scheme has progressed.
The Deputy referred to the desirability of transferring the scheme from the Department of Social Welfare to the Department of Health. The main argument made by the Irish Dental Association is that the whole scheme should be means tested, but I am against that. I believe this is a very good scheme for workers, one which workers value. The scheme should continue. The Irish Dental Association contend that all treatments be means tested, but this is in their interests. However, I want to keep the scheme as it is.