Would the Minister agree that it is only possible for children to receive treatment at the various health centres if they have been assessed during free checks at school?

I do not get the Deputy's point.

It is simple. By way of explanation to the Minister, if a parent wishes a child to obtain treatment at a health centre, the treatment cannot be provided unless the health centre has already received an assessment card from the child's school. Is the Minister aware of that situation?

Yes.

Are there available a sufficient number of orthodontists to provide the service or are the checks at school carried out sufficiently frequently to ensure that the problems are detected while the children are still at primary school and are, consequently, eligible for the service at the health centres?

Is the Minister telling us that a child cannot avail of the treatment unless he has been referred by way of the school medical services?

That is the normal course.

Is there no provision for treatment for those children who may be referred by family doctors in cases where families are medical card holders?

They would still have to be referred through an orthodontist.

In other words, they would have to go through the school medical scheme?

That is the position so far as I am aware.

That situation should be examined.

Question No. 11.

We have had a long series of questions and I am going on to deal with the next question.

I am waiting for a reply.

The Chair has no control over such matters.

Would the Minister not agree that the proper stage at which orthodontic treatment should be provided is before a child begins school? It is a grave defect in the administration of the service that the situation is as the Minister says. Therefore he should have it examined.

I have not had a reply.

I will allow a final supplementary from Deputy Power.