asked the Minister for Health the number of patients, by category in each of (a) the health board regions and (b) the counties who received dental treatment for the past five years; the type of treatment; the number of the waiting lists in each health board region and each county; the plans, if any, he has to meet with the Irish Dental Association prior to October 1987 to discuss the existing lack of service and finance, and to agree on an integrated and up-dated service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The statistical information requested by the Deputy has been prepared in the form of tabular statements which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

It would be my intention to meet with the Irish Dental Association, in common with the other major interest groups in due course. I would expect that such a meeting would range over all the issues referred to in the Deputy's question.

I might add that I will be attending the annual dinner of the association this weekend.

Number of adults and children who received dental treatment under Health Boards 1981-1985

Type of treatment provided 1981

Type of Treatment Provided 1982

Type of Treatment Provided 1983

Type of Treatment Provided 1984

Type of Treatment Provided 1985

Number on Waiting List at Present

May I suggest, as a member of the North-Eastern Health Board, the Minister will be aware of the very long waiting list for dental treatment — in fact, the total lack of dental treatment — and the fact that the Irish Dental Association have clearly indicated they would be unable to cope with the increasing demand for treatment for spouses? Would he like to make a comment on that?

As I pointed out in reply to an earlier question, I am well aware of the serious position in the dental service. When we left office in 1982 there was an excellent dental service for public patients in place but the ad hoc service which allowed medical card holders to attend private dentists has gone completely over the past years. I am examining the position of the dental service with a view to seeing what we can do next year to improve that service. In the meantime, I have asked the health boards to protect community care services, including the dental services, in the current year.

Does the Minister intend to co-ordinate the activities of this new service, which we welcome, with the health boards or will it be done as a separate arrangement with the Irish Dental Association? In other words, what role will the health boards play in the new service due to commence from October?

Since the reply is in the main by way of a tabular statement the Chair has always taken the view that it is better for the Deputy to await the tabular statement when he will then be in a position to ask relevant questions.

The scheme the Deputy referred to, that is, that dependants of those who pay social welfare contributions and their entitlement to the service from October, is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Social Welfare.

May I——

This reply is in the form of a tabular statement——

I realise that but the point I am making is that because two Departments are involved there will be a lot of confusion about the operation of the new service. That is why I am asking if this service will be provided in co-operation with the Irish Dental Association.

As I understand it, the present service for those who pay social welfare contributions is a direct contract between the Department of Social Welfare and the dentists, and starting in October there will be an extension of that scheme.