Vol. 433 No. 1
244 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the level of dental service available in the Western Health Board area; if he will give details, by category, of the waiting lists in counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, for dental treatment; the plans, if any, he has to reduce these waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In regard to the school dental services the position is that the Western Health Board is now adopting a systematic targeted approach for the delivery of these services. This ensures a more equitable distribution of the dental resources available. The approach aims to examine all children in specific classes and to provide treatment as necessary. The classes chosen in the Western Health Board area are second and sixth. These classes are chosen with preventive treatments in mind and to ensure that children are dentally fit before they leave national school.
Children for whom a service was previously rarely, if ever, demanded and those in greatest need of dental care, will be screened, advised of the services available, educated in dental hygiene and provided with treatment as necessary. In this way the optimum service is provided for those in need within the resources available. Emergency treatment is also available for children on demand. There is no waiting list for children under the schools programme.
