Vol. 394 No. 8
83 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will make early arrangements for the restoration of a primary school dental services scheme, which was withdrawn in mid-1987, for 1,400 pupils attending three primary schools in the Killarney Urban District Council area.
Prior to 1987 dental services for eligible children attending the town schools of Killarney, Tralee and Dingle were provided by private dentists on behalf of the Southern Health Board. Following the receipt of a report on dental services, the Southern Health Board decided that these services should in the future be provided through the board's own dental officers. However, due to recruitment and financial constraints, to date additional dental staff have not been recruited.
At present school children from the town schools of Killarney, Tralee and Dingle who present themselves at the board's dental clinics and who are in urgent need of treatment are treated by the board's dental officers.
The provision of dental services in the board's area is on the agenda for the February meeting of the Community Care Committee of the Southern Health Board while I am discussing with the Southern Health Board my commitment to bring about an improvement in dental services throughout the health board area.
