Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Dec 2002

Vol. 558 No. 5

Written Answers. - Social Insurance.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

91 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extent to which ophthalmic and dental benefits are readily accessible to those with the required contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24749/02]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

116 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the dispute between her Department and the Irish Dental Association over the charging of fees for treatment of PRSI paying patients; if it is intended to re-open discussions with the association on this matter; if she proposes to compensate those who received treatment during this dispute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24696/02]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 116 together.

The current dispute relates only to the provision of dental benefit and there has not been any change in the availability of ophthalmic services under my Department's treatment benefit scheme. The dispute with the Irish Dental Association commenced in March and has continued, with a short suspension of the association's action in October. Efforts have continued over that period to try to resolve the dispute.

In the absence of a resolution to the dispute, my Department has ceased to accept claims from dentists who were not prepared to adhere to their contractual arrangements under the scheme. However, the scheme continues to operate and patients continue to be treated by dentists who were prepared to adhere to their contracts.

The dispute relates to the imposition of unlimited fees on patients in breach of the contractual arrangements under which treatment is provided under the scheme. My concern, throughout this dispute, is to ensure protection for insured workers seeking basic dental treatment under the scheme. Efforts to resolve the dispute are continuing, but so far it has not been possible to reach agreement on a mechanism which would afford the necessary level of protection for these workers.

It will not be possible to assess the impact of the dispute on expenditure under the scheme until a settlement is reached and the impact on claims experience has been evaluated. At this stage, expenditure on the scheme in 2002 is budgeted at €35 million, that is, the same level as applied in 2001.