148 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the additional funds, if any, which have been made available to the Eastern Health Board to address the waiting lists for dental and orthodontic dental treatment; the reduction the additional funding has made to the waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Since 1990 my Department has made a special additional allocation available to the Eastern Health Board specifically for the development of orthodontic services and dental services for adult medical card holders and their dependants. The special additional allocation provided in 1991 for this purpose was £862,500 and the Eastern Health Board's original allocation for 1992 includes a repeat of this special provision for the continuing development of the orthodontic services and the adult dental services.

These special allocations will have enabled the board to provide over 12,000 adult dental treatments since 1990 and to clear waiting lists which then existed. The level of service now being provided has generated an increased expectation and consequently demand.

As a direct result of the additional funding the board have been able to provide 5,012 on-going or completed orthodontic treatments since 1990. The Eastern Health Board are at present making arrangements for the shared appointment of consultant orthodontists with the Dublin Dental Hospital and the interviewing of candidates is due to be held this month. In addition to their own direct clinical involvement, a primary task of the consultant orthodontist will be to organise and co-ordinate orthodontic training to specialist and sub specialist levels for health board dental staff to provide a greatly increased volume of service.