Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 3

Written Answers. - Dental Service.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

85 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health the allocation which was given to the Eastern Health Board in 1996 to provide dental care to elderly people with medical cards; the service which has been given and the number of patients who have been treated; the action, if any, he can take to eliminate the long waiting list whereby elderly old age pensioners are waiting for an appointment for up to one year; and if he will refer in particular to the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [23348/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): In the initial phase of the dental treatment services scheme routine dental treatment and priority full denture treatment was made available to persons 65 years of age or older with medical card entitlement. In addition emergency dental treatment was made available to all adults with medical card entitlement. The combined allocation to the Eastern Health Board for the emergency, over 65 routine and over 65 full denture elements of the dental treatment services scheme in 1996 was £1.74 million.

The uptake on emergency dental treatment has been considerably higher than envisaged and has used a disproportionate amount of the total funding provided to the Eastern Health Board for the scheme. As a result the board has not been in a position to approve as many routine and full denture treatments as planned.

I have been advised by the Eastern Health Board that to date in 1996 the board has approved full dentures for 810 persons over 65 years and routine treatment for 1,110 person over 65 years.

Due to the high demand on the emergency element of the scheme the movement of the waiting list for persons over 65 years is not significant. However, the waiting time is currently under one year. I understand from the board that the position in relation to the entire waiting list with particular emphasis on the emergency scheme is currently under review.

My Department is also in discussions with the Irish Dental Association with a view to implementing revised arrangements nationally for emergency treatment and so ensuring that the routine element of the scheme operates in a more satisfactory manner.

The Eastern Health Board has advised me that it is examining the position of the individual in Dublin 11 referred to in the question and will communicate with her directly. In the meantime, if the individual requires emergency treatment for the relief of pain she should contact the Eastern Health Board on freephone 1800 250 250 for a list of participating private dentists.