Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 2

Written Answers. - Dental Services.

John Bruton

Ceist:

201 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the North Eastern Health Board had to inform dentists operating the medical card scheme for dental treatment that they had to postpone dental treatment due to a lack of finance (details supplied); if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that there is a three month waiting list; if he will allocate additional funds to the health board in order that it gives treatment to people requiring attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26885/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The provision of dental treatment under the dental treatment services scheme to adults with medical card entitlements in the North Eastern Health Board area is the responsibility of the health board.

I have had inquiries made of the North Eastern Health Board. The board has advised me that there has been an increase in demand for treatment under the scheme in 1998. So far this year there has been an increase of almost 1,300 in the number of patients who received routine treatment as compared with the previous 12 months. Despite the additional demand the board was able to operate routine treatment services without waiting lists up to 30 September last.

However, to remain within its budget the board has found it necessary to temporarily suspend routine treatment services under the scheme. These services will be restored as soon as possible. I am making additional fielding available to health boards in 1999 for the dental treatment services scheme. Additional funding totalling £0.410 million is available to the North Eastern Health Board. These additional funds will be committed to the scheme when I have a firm undertaking from the Irish Dental Association to implement revised procedures designed to ensure greater accountability under the scheme. These procedures were designed in full consultation with the association over the past two years.

The revised procedures will also make the scheme more user friendly for the patient and the dental practitioner.