asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to promote the improvement of dental care for the chronically sick, the disabled and the elderly.

Because of the limited resources available to them, particularly in dental personnel, health boards are concentrating mainly on the provision of dental services for eligible children. Consequently, these boards as yet are in a position to provide only a restricted dental service for other eligible persons, including those in the categories referred to by the Deputy. However, in the operation of this service, health boards are expected to give priority to persons who require dental treatment for urgent medical reasons and there are special arrangements for providing such treatment for the chronic sick, and others with long term ailments, in health board institutions.

Will the Minister state how the recipient of an old age pension can get treatment at night or in the evening, when normal services are not available for an acute dental condition?

He applies to the health board.

When a person is in acute pain with, perhaps, an abscess, is he to sit down and write a letter to the health board about it or will the Minister state that such a person may go for treatment to a private dental practitioner and subsequently claim from the health board?

I will have to look into that. I do not know what the position is.