Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:106 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to the concerns raised by the Irish Dental Association (details supplied) in relation to the 1997 budget proposals on treatment benefit. [8569/97]
Written Answers. - Dental Service.
Limerick East): It is my intention that a full range of dental treatment designed to achieve oral health goals will be extended to all adults with medical card entitlements under the dental treatment services scheme. The dental treatment services scheme is part of the dental health action plan and private dental practitioners, under contract to health boards, are significant providers of services under the scheme.
As provided under the dental health action plan, the scheme is being introduced on a phased basis. In the initial phase of the scheme, which commenced on 1 November 1994, emergency dental treatment was made available to all adults. Routine dental treatment and priority full denture treatment was made available to persons 65 years of age or older.
Under the second phase of the scheme, which commenced on 1 June 1996, routine dental treatment was extended to persons in the 16-34 year age group and full denture treatment was extended to all edentulous persons.
In 1997 my Department is providing an additional £4 million to health boards for the development of the scheme. A total of £15.5 million is now available to health boards annually for the scheme.