Vol. 495 No. 7
431 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Midland Health Board has been unable to provide dental treatment services because of budgetary restraints; the number of these patients who have been refused treatment; if he will provide the necessary funds to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21465/98]
The provision of dental treatment to adults in the Midland Health Board area under the dental treatment services scheme is the statutory responsibility of the health board.
I have had inquiries made of the Midland Health Board. The board has currently 1,614 applications on hands and anticipates that these will be cleared within the next eight to ten weeks.
The Midland Health Board is well resourced in comparison with other health boards for the dental treatment services scheme. However, demand for treatment in the Midland Health Board appears to be rising much faster than elsewhere and this is being examined.
Health boards must also ensure probity in the operation of the scheme.
