Vol. 512 No. 4
136 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment in the Southern Health Board and Kerry regions; the longest period a patient is on the waiting list; the measures, if any, he will take to improve the service in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26389/99]
The provision of orthodontic services and the maintenance of treatment waiting lists is the statutory responsibility of the health boards. I understand from the Southern Health Board that waiting lists are maintained on a regional basis and that there are just over 8,000 patients in the region awaiting orthodontic treatment. According to the board, three years is the longest waiting period for a patient on the current treatment waiting list.
Orthodontic services continue to be developed in accordance with the dental health action plan. The action plan provides for the development by each health board of a consultant-led orthodontic service. My Department is making an additional £250,000 on an ongoing basis available to the Southern Health Board in year 2000 for the further development of its orthodontic services.
