Vol. 427 No. 6
273 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the number of persons by category awaiting orthodontic treatment in the Mid-Western Health Board area; the allocation made available to deal with these categories for 1993; the average waiting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
According to information supplied to my Department by the Mid-Western Health Board there are approximately 1,500 children currently undergoing secondary and primary care orthodontic treatment. There are no children in category A, the category of greatest severity, waiting for orthodontic treatment. Treatment for category A is provided immediately. There are currently 550 children in categories B and C on the board's waiting list for orthodontic treatment.
The average waiting period for categories B and C is approximately two to two and a half years.
It is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board to decide the proportion of its allocation it provides for orthodontic services in its area in 1993. I understand that the Board allocated £290,000 in 1992.
