Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:192 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children when a specialist orthodontist will be appointed at the Dental Clinic, Moyderwell, Tralee, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29558/01]
Vol. 545 No. 1
192 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children when a specialist orthodontist will be appointed at the Dental Clinic, Moyderwell, Tralee, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29558/01]
Structural changes are being introduced into the orthodontic service. These changes include the creation of the grade of specialist in orthodontics, the development of specialist training programmes and the creation of a grade of auxiliary dental worker to work in the orthodontic area.
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, six dentists for the Eastern Regional Health Authority, North Eastern Health Board and South Eastern Health Board commenced their training in October last for specialist in orthodontics qualifications. Furthermore, three dentists from the Western Health Board and North Eastern Health Board are already in specialist training for orthodontics and this brings the total number of dentists in such training to nine. Discussions on providing an additional training course to commence in 2002 are also under way.