Vol. 396 No. 4
120 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the reason virtually no dental services have been available in recent years in the Cork city area; if he will outline his proposals to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is not correct to say that no dental service has been available in recent years in the Southern Health Board. Dental services on the basis of priority categories have been provided by the board as follows: the relief of pain and sepsis; persons who are handicapped or medically at risk; national school children; adolescent dependants of medical card holders and medical card holders and their adult dependants.
The board provide dental services for children in Cork city on the basis of the routine screening of children in first, third and sixth classes in the national schools. Where treatment is needed it is carried out in one of the dental clinics. In 1989, 14 dental surgeons were engaged in the provision of dental treatment in Cork city.
The community care committee are currently examining a report on the dental services in the Southern Health Board which outlines measures necessary to bring about an improvement to the services throughout the board.
In addition the Southern Health Board will benefit from the apportionment of the £3 million additional funds provided in the budget to bring about an improvement in adult dental services and in orthodontic services.
