Vol. 430 No. 2
291 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that the extent of funding now available for orthodontic services is sufficient to have category 2 patients treated within 12 months; if his attention has been drawn to the trauma suffered by patients who have been on the waiting list for four years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
For the past few years special additional allocations have been provided specifically for the development of orthodontic services. As a result health boards have been able to increase their levels of orthodontic service provision. At current levels of treatment health boards are completing over 5,000 cases annually.
Consultant orthodontists have now been successfully recruited to the following boards:
1. Mid-Western Health Board.
2. North-Western Health Board.
3. Southern Health Board.
4. South-Eastern Health Board.
5. Western Health Board.
6. Eastern Health Board/Dublin Dental Hospital and School.
Health boards which have not so far been successful in recruiting consultants have made alternative arrangements with private specialists for the time being and will make further efforts to recruit consultants in the near future.
In addition to their own clinical involvement a primary duty of the newly recruited consultant orthodontists is to organise and carry out a programme of education and training in orthodontic procedures for existing health board dental staff. Further improvements in service levels will then be possible.
The Government is providing an additional £2 million in 1993 on improving the dental services in accordance with the Programme for a Partnership Government.
I understand the concerns you have expressed regarding the provision of orthodontic services and I can assure you that I will further improve the situation as resources become available to me.
