Paul Connaughton
Ceist:205 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason special orthodontic treatment, private and public, is being discontinued from 1 December at St. Joseph's Hospital, Raheny; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the proposed link up with Beaumont Hospital may take quite a considerable amount of time to sort out administrative matters, employ junior staff etc. and that there may be a vacuum period of several months to a year before St. Joseph's functions to the present plan; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the cost to orthodontic patients has been far less in St. Joseph's than in other hospitals; if his attention has further been drawn to the special needs of public patients who if not facilitated in St. Joseph's may not be able to access this treatment anywhere here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26940/03]
