Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
408 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 88 of 7 October 2003, No. 291 of 12 November 2003 and No. 273 of 4 February 2004, when domiciliary care allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [9036/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs previously stated in this case, the assessment of and entitlement to domiciliary care allowance is a matter for the relevant health board. I have contacted the Mid-Western Health Board on the Deputy's behalf and have been advised that this case is still under consideration and once more information is available the health board will contact the Deputy directly.
409 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children on waiting lists for orthodontic treatment in the Eastern Regional Health Authority with the total numbers in each treatment category, and the numbers in each category who are waiting longer than six months, 12 months, two years, three years and four years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9074/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of orthodontic services is a matter for the health boards-authority, in the first instance.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that I have taken a number of measures to improve orthodontic services in the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, area and on a national basis. The grade of specialist in orthodontics has been created in the health board orthodontic service. In 2003, my Department and the health boards funded 13 dentists from various health boards for specialist in orthodontics qualifications at training programmes in Ireland and at three separate universities in the United Kingdom. These 13 trainees for the public orthodontic service are additional to the six dentists who commenced their training in 2001. Thus, there is an aggregate of 19 dentists, including five from the ERHA, in specialist training for orthodontics. These measures will complement the other structural changes being introduced into the orthodontic service, including the creation of an auxiliary grade of orthodontic therapist to work in the orthodontic area.
Furthermore, the commitment of the Department to training development is manifested in the funding provided to both the training of specialist clinical staff and the recruitment of a professor in orthodontics for the Cork Dental School. This appointment at the school will facilitate the development of an approved training programme leading to specialist qualification in orthodontics. The chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board has reported that the professor commenced duty on 1 of December 2003. In recognition of the importance of this post at Cork Dental School, my Department has given approval in principle to a proposal from the school to further substantially improve the training facilities there for orthodontics. This project should see the construction of a large orthodontic unit and support facilities; it will ultimately support an enhanced teaching and treatment service to the wider region under the leadership of the professor of orthodontics. Orthodontic initiative funding of €2.044 million was provided to the ERHA in 2001 and this has enabled the authority to recruit additional staff and build additional orthodontic facilities.
In June 2002, my Department provided additional funding of €5 million from the treatment purchase fund to the health boards-authority specifically for the purchase of orthodontic treatment. This funding is enabling boards to provide both additional sessions for existing staff and purchase treatment from private specialist orthodontic practitioners. The ERHA received €1.815 million for the treatment of cases in this way.
The regional chief executive of the ERHA has informed my Department of the following information on the treatment waiting lists at the end of December 2003:
|
Area Health Board |
Category A |
Average waiting time (months) |
Category B |
Average waiting time (months) |
|
South Western |
644 |
< 10 |
474 |
< 12 |
|
East Coast |
52 |
< 6 |
148 |
< 24 |
|
Northern |
45 |
< 12 |
2,220 |
< 24 |
The management of waiting lists for orthodontic treatment in the ERHA is the responsibility of the regional chief executive. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the authority to provide the Deputy with a breakdown of the treatment waiting list as requested.
The chief executive officers of the health boards ERHA have informed my Department that at the end of the December quarter 2003, there were 21,727 children receiving orthodontic treatment in the public orthodontic service. This means that there are over twice as many children getting orthodontic treatment as there are children waiting to be treated and 4,432 extra children are getting treatment from the health boards ERHA since the end of 2001.
410 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if the ERHA will indicate when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 will receive their orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9075/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in Dublin 9 rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the regional chief executive to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to her directly.
