Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
142 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health whether free dental treatment is in operation for the over 65 year age group in each health board in the country; if so, the number of qualifying patients who have been treated in each health board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22565/96]
Comment on this
146 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health whether the Government decision announced in June 1996 regarding free dental treatment with private practitioners for all medical card holders in the 16 to 35 year age group has been implemented in each health board in the country; if so, if he will give a breakdown of the number of qualifying patients who have been treated in each health board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22569/96]
Comment on this
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 146 together.
Under the dental treatment services scheme which was introduced by my Department on 1 November 1994, dental treatment will be extended to all adults with medical card eligibility on a phased basis.
In the initial phasing of the scheme persons aged 65 years and over were identified as a priority group and additional resources have been made available to health boards to enable them to provide dental treatment including denture treatment for this group. In addition, emergency dental treatment for the relief of pain is available under the dental treatment services scheme to all medical card holders irrespective of age and eligible persons over the age of 16 may attend any private dentist under contract with the health boards, if in pain and in need of emergency treatment.
The second phase of the scheme was introduced from 1 June 1996 and involves the extension of the scheme to medical card holders in the 16 to 34 year old age group and the provision of full dentures to all edentulous medical card holders.
According to information supplied by the BMS (Payment) Board the following number of eligible persons have been treated under the dental treatment services scheme.
Persons aged 65 years or over Treated under the DTSS since 1 November 1994