David Cullinane
Ceist:1644. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of restoring dental screening and treatment in schools. [29878/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 June 2022
Ceisteanna (1644)
Freagraí scríofa
The HSE Dental Service provides dental treatment services to eligible children in targeted groups, people with special care needs and others in the care of the HSE. Since the emergence of Covid-19, there has been a significant increase in delays accessing routine treatment for those in target school classes. This has resulted in backlogs emerging in the targeted schools programme.
In 2019 a total of 151,393 new oral health patients in target groups attended for scheduled assessment. The corresponding figure for 2020 was 55,324, in 2021 it was 82,494. The HSE is continuing to restore dental screening and treatment to children up to 16 years of age through recruitment initiatives to fill vacancies that have arisen or may arise; prioritizing clinical treatment and patient groups; and reallocating clinical resources to areas of greatest need.
The national approach to future oral health service provision will be informed by Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy (2019). A new model of service for children will be introduced in accordance with the evidence and WHO recommendations. Oral healthcare packages, which will include prevention, primary care and emergency care, will be the basis of service provision for children. These oral healthcare packages will be provided in a general dental care practice. Based on costings done by the ESRI, this is expected to cost in the region of €30 million.