182 Mr. V. Brady asked the Minister for Health the arrangements which have been made with private practitioners to deal with emergency specialist orthodontic services for those on the Eastern Health Board orthodontic waiting list; and the number of cases which have been dealt with under these new arrangements since the Minister's statement earlier this year.

The Eastern Health Board have the services of two consultant orthodontists doing two orthodontic clinics per week. In addition the board have the services of nine dentists with specialist qualifications in orthodontics providing a total of sixteen sessions per week.

In the period July 1990 to August 1992 a total of 5,012 patients completed treatment, or were undergoing treatment, with the involvement of these personnel.