Vol. 561 No. 6
147 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applicants for dental benefit who were refused service during the dispute with the dentists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5127/03]
148 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of money saved during the course of the dispute with the dentists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5128/03]
Dental benefit is provided to insured workers through a panel of dentists who enter into agreements with my Department to provide treatments under the scheme on a contract basis and at fees specified in the agreements. Under these arrangements and with limited exceptions, treatments are provided to the patients either free of charge or at a reduced fee and the Department pays the balance of the cost directly to the dentist at the agreed rates. Patients seeking benefit attend a participating dentist who accepts the claim, indicates the treatment required and on completion of treatment submits the claim to my Department for payment of the Department's share of the cost.
From the beginning of August 2002 my Department ceased to accept claims from dentists who were imposing increased patient charges in breach of these arrangements. Patients were advised at this stage to check that their dentist was continuing to operate within his contract with the Department and in cases where this was not so, they were advised to use my Departments LOCALL service to get details of dentists adhering to the agreed fees for treatments. Patients were also advised that the Department would not be in a position to refund any costs arising from treatment provided to them as private patients.
The LOCALL service has been heavily used by patients who have been directed to alternative dentists who were providing a service at the agreed rates.
My Department has no information on the numbers who were refused service during this dispute. The LOCALL service was operated to ensure that patients could secure treatment from dentists still operating the scheme. Patients had the choice of using an alternative dentist where their own was in dispute, or deferring treatment pending a settlement, or being treated by dentists who has ceased to operate the scheme.
The impact of the dispute cannot be fully assessed until a resolution is achieved and treatments which may have been deferred pending a settlement are carried out. Expenditure on dental benefit in 2002 amounted to €35.1 million compared to €35 million in 2001.
150 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the supports her Department offers to multiple-birth parents; her views on whether such supports are adequate; and her plans to improve services. [5138/03]
Prior to the introduction of the Social Welfare Act, 1998, child benefit was payable at the normal rate for each child in the case of twins with an added grant of €634.87, £500, payable at birth. Further grants of €634.87 were payable when the twins reached the ages of four and 12.
Child benefit was paid at double the normal rate where three or more children were born together. However, no birth grants were payable in the case of triplets.
