Vol. 541 No. 2
509 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will receive orthodontic treatment; if he will extend the experimental programme to allow those on the waiting lists attend a private orthodontist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21679/01]
The provision of orthodontic services is the responsibility of the health boards in the first instance. The chief executive officer of the Eastern Regional Health Authority has advised me that the Northern Area Health Board proposes to commence the grant in-aid scheme for orthodontic treatment in the board, where it will operate on a pilot basis for a period of 12 months, subject to clarifying issues raised by the representative body of participating private orthodontists – Orthodontic Society of Ireland – in the final stages of its negotiations with the board and subject to legal opinion.
I have asked the chief executive officer of the authority to investigate the position in relation to the case raised by the Deputy and to reply directly to him as a matter of urgency.
