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Dental Services Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Ceisteanna (1610)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

1610. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to reinstate the 2008 dental treatment services scheme. [33548/19]

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Freagraí scríofa

The HSE introduced measures in April 2010 to cap expenditure under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), at the 2008 level of €63 million, as part of Budget 2010 measures. The cost of providing treatment under the DTSS was €58.8 million in 2018. 

The cost of restoring treatments which had been provided before 2010 to all medical card holders would depend on a number of factors, including the underlying oral health of the population and the likely level of take-up of such services.   

Regarding future dental services, the new National Oral Health Policy, "Smile agus Sláinte" which I launched in April 2019, includes proposals for the introduction of  packages of care for children from birth to 16 years of age to be delivered by contracted local dental practices. It also proposes preventive packages of care to be made available for all eligible adults at different intervals during their life course. In addition, routine oral healthcare services will continue to  be provided as well as complex care tailored to individual needs.

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