Vol. 516 No. 5
198 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive orthodontic treatment from the Western Health Board; the plans, if any, he has to reduce the cur rent waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8503/00]
As the provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in County Roscommon is the statutory responsibility of the Western Health Board I have asked the chief executive officer of that health board to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply to the Deputy directly as a matter of urgency.
Orthodontic services are being developed by the Western Health Board in accordance with the dental health action plan. The board's orthodontic unit, based at Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway, currently has the services of three full-time orthodontic surgeons, three part-time sessional staff and one consultant orthodontist.
The waiting time for orthodontic treatment in the Western Health Board area is currently three years. The board proposes that the waiting times for orthodontic treatment will be reduced progressively over the next few years as additional resources become available.
I have allocated additional funding of £0.150 million to the Western Health Board this year on an ongoing basis to provide for the further development of orthodontic services.
