There is a commitment in the programme for Government to deal with the waiting lists in many HSE services across the country, particularly for orthodontic services for young teenagers. In my constituency of Sligo-Leitrim there is a waiting list of over two years and, in some cases, three years, for young teenagers awaiting orthodontic services. Many young teenagers will finish secondary school and go on to third level before they will be called to receive treatment. I ask the Taoiseach for an assurance that a review will take place, that additional services will be put in place and that whatever needs to be done will be done to speed up the process. Families are at their wits' end. Up to a couple of months ago a family with a member on a waiting list for a certain length of time could have availed of private orthodontic services and been compensated later, but I understand this service has been withdrawn, leaving many families in the lurch. As youngsters attending college have a lot of expenses, this is a crisis, particularly in County Sligo.

Young teenagers can become very self-conscious of these matters and it causes some of them a great deal of stress and personal pressures. It is not the only place where there are waiting lists for orthodontics. It is a very specialised operation. Sometimes dentists may say that it may have to develop a little more before they could operate.

I understand that. I am not referring to those cases.

We will see what the response will be in terms of the waiting lists across that belt in general.