Vol. 454 No. 3
47 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty experienced by contributory old age pensioners in making two applications, one to his Department and one to the health board for the provision of dentures; the work involved in processing such applications; and the plans, if any, he has to improve the system. [10529/95]
Insured pensioners, if they satisfy the contribution conditions, can receive dentures under the treatment benefit scheme administered by the Department of Social Welfare. Under this scheme, the patient pays 50 per cent of the cost to the private dentist and the scheme pays the other 50 per cent. The Department's scheme is paid for out of the Social Insurance Fund and, accordingly, must be accounted for separately.
Pensioners who hold medical cards are entitled to free dentures under the health board dental scheme. This scheme was recently expanded to provide a choice-of-dentist system whereby the health boards may arrange for the treatment to be provided by a participating private dentist — as an alternative to the full time health board dentist.
In practice, the first point of contact for a person in the vast majority of cases is the dental surgery. In the bulk of cases my Department does not receive details of the treatment until after they have been carried out.
At a recent meeting between officials of the Department and the Irish Dental Association, it was agreed that a circular would be issued to dentists outlining how medical card holders might best be advised of the most beneficial way of pursuing their entitlements. This circular, which will clear up any problems which might exist, is in the process of being agreed with the association and will be issued shortly.
