386 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for orthodontic assessment. [8773/02]

Responsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in County Mayo rests with the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

387 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will arrange for financial assistance to be provided for orthodontic treatment to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8774/02]

Under the orthodontic initiative that I announced last year, health boards received additional funding for proposals to improve their orthodontic services. These proposals included inter alia the use of private specialist orthodontic practitioners to treat patients. Responsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in Dublin 22 rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.