Vol. 543 No. 5
322 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the date on which he learned from the Northern Area Health Board that the board's proposed scheme for public-private funding mix for orthodontic care required legislation; the action he has taken to date; the steps he has taken to assist the board in recruiting a public orthodontist for the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27757/01]
In a letter dated 15 June 2001, my Department received a copy of legal advice acquired by the Northern Area Health Board on the grant-in-aid scheme. The advice was to the effect that the board's proposed scheme conflicted with the statutory provisions of the Health Act, 1970. The board subsequently declared in a press statement on 17 October last that it was not going ahead with its proposed scheme.
However, under the orthodontic initiative, my Department recently approved a proposed scheme from the Mid-Western Health Board to engage the services of private specialist orthodontic practitioners to treat patients. This scheme will facilitate similar arrangements in the NAHB. Agreement has now been reached at the Health Service Employers Agency on the creation of the specialist in orthodontics grade in the orthodontic service. In addition, four dentists for the Eastern Regional Health Authority – ERHA – commenced their training in October for specialist in orthodontics qualifications and discussions on providing an additional training course to commence in 2002 are also under way.
My Department has also funded the appointment of a director of specialist training for the Irish committee for specialist training in dentistry through the postgraduate medical and dental board. The director of specialist training has taken up duty and will play a pivotal role in assisting the different agencies involved in dental specialist training programmes. However, it will be some time before these structural changes impact significantly on service levels. Consequently, I asked health boards to develop proposals to make an immediate significant impact on their waiting lists. An additional investment of £5.3 million – 6.729 million – has been approved for orthodontic services this year of which £3.7 million – 4.698 million – is to fund an initiative on orthodontic waiting lists. The ERHA has been allocated an additional £2.34 million – 2.971 million – this year for orthodontic services of which £1.61 million – 2.044 million – was for the orthodontic initiative. This will enable the authority to recruit additional staff and engage the service of private specialist orthodontic practitioners to treat patients.
323 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress which has been made by his Department in conjunction with the Dental Council in drawing up a comprehensive scheme as provided for in the Dentists Act, 1985; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27777/01]
The Dental Council recently submitted a scheme to my Department for the establishment of a class of auxiliary dental worker to be known as clinical dental technician pursuant to the statutory provisions of the Dentists Act, 1985. The scheme is being considered by my Department.
