I welcome Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Sean Power to the House.
School Dental Service.
I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and join in welcoming the Minister to the House. This Adjournment matter concerns the need for the Minister for Health and Children to outline her intention to restore the school dental service to national schools in the Ballinasloe area, County Galway. Since the beginning of the school year the national schools in the area have been without school dentists. The vacancy has arisen through the resignation of the previous incumbent and her return to private practice in Northern Ireland. The consequences are very serious for pupils in both the urban and rural schools in the area. Some 25 national schools are served by the centre in Ballinasloe. As a result of this resignation and the failure to appoint a replacement there will be no school visits during this year. That will have serious consequences. Parents only have access if the child is in severe pain. These cases are referred to a centre in Galway. Every year 20 to 30 cases are referred for orthodontic treatment. This year, to date, no such referrals have taken place. There has been a deterioration of a service that should be available on demand.
This problem has occurred throughout County Galway over a number of years. We are allowing this service to grind to a halt. If it disappears, parents will have to seek private treatment for their children at huge cost. Both the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children and the Minister for Health and Children have promoted preventative care. How can that be reconciled with the current situation?
There will be a part-time worker in the position for two days a week. That will provide a service with no school visits. Pupils now in sixth class will leave the primary cycle without any referral for necessary treatment. When they are referred to the centre in Galway they will be dismissed. The consequences will be very serious. I ask that action be taken immediately. Why can the Health Service Executive in the western area not appoint dentists to the position to provide orthodontic and dental treatment? If it does, why do the dentists not remain in the position? Why is this area less attractive than others? A similar situation to that of Ballinasloe was highlighted in Loughrea two years ago. What is wrong? Why does a school dental service not exist in this area? I ask the Minister of State to take immediate steps towards a permanent appointment to serve the needs of the many children in the area who have lost out this year.
As the Senator is aware, the Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf health and personal social services. This includes the delivery of school dental services. Nonetheless, I am happy to explain the development of policy in this area and to convey the information provided by the chief officer for the executive's western area on the specific question raised.
Under section 67 of the Health Act 1970 and the Health (Dental Services for Children) Regulations 2000 (S.I. No. 248 of 2000), preschool children and children attending national school are eligible to receive dental treatment for defects noted at child health examinations. Child health examinations are provided by the Health Service Executive to children attending national school in accordance with section 66 of the Health Act 1970. Under the Act and regulations the HSE provides free dental examinations and limited treatment to children under six years of age, children attending national school and children up to 16 years of age who have attended national school.
In general the dental services provided are limited to oral examinations in schools, usually at second, fourth and sixth class and to emergency services provided at clinics or health centres. In certain circumstances and as an oral health promotion measure, fissure seals are provided in HSE clinics for children identified as requiring them during an oral health examination. These services are provided by public health dentists. In 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, there were approximately 450,000 children attending national schools in Ireland. All of these children are eligible to avail of the services provided under this scheme. I am informed by the chief officer of the HSE's western area that a vacancy arose late last year which affected the provision of the national schools service in the Ballinasloe area. The routine screening of national schools services in the area was particularly affected. As 14 dental teams are allocated to the school screening services in the western area of the HSE, vacancies will inevitably arise on occasion.
Constantly.
When they arise, recruitment must take place in accordance with the appropriate procedures and this can take time. However, I understand that the HSE's western area has at all times made provision for emergency treatment for all children under 16 years of age to be available where required. Through this service patients can access where necessary the general anaesthetic extraction service in University College Hospital Galway. Furthermore, the HSE's western region has contracted a private dentist to cover the Ballinasloe area on a two day per week basis as of Friday 22 April 2005. Finally, the HSE's western area is currently engaged in a recruitment process for a salaried public service dentist for the area. I trust the position will be filled in the near future.