asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cardholders awaiting dental treatment in the Cork area of the Southern Health Board.

The number of medical card holders in the Cork area of the Southern Health Board awaiting authorisations to attend private dental practitioners under the ad hoc dental arangement is 2,941.

455.

asked the Minister for Health the reasons the ad hoc scheme, which enables medical cardholders to obtain dental treatment from the dentist of their choice, has been terminated.

The ad hoc scheme enabling medical cardholders to obtain dental treatment from private dentists has not been terminated. However, three health boards have suspended the issue of authorisations because the funds allocated by them to the arrangement have been expended. These health boards intend to resume the issue of authorisations in 1982.