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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Dental clinics in Kerry

Summary

Michael Healy-Rae says Kerry is unfairly provided for compared with Cork and needs more dental clinics. The Taoiseach says the matter is outside his remit and will ask the Minister for Health to contact him.

On the programme for Government, we have 25 dental clinics in County Cork and four in County Kerry. We had six clinics in the county but two - in Dingle and Kenmare - were closed. According to the census, the populations of counties Cork and Kerry were 542,000 and 147,000, respectively. On that basis, County Kerry should-----

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The matter the Deputy raises is more like a parliamentary question.

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The programme for Government includes a commitment for dental services. On the basis of population, County Kerry should have seven dental clinics but it has four. We are being treated unfairly in comparison with our neighbours in County Cork, with whom I have absolutely no problem. I want County Kerry to get its fair share, which we are not getting at present. We should have seven dental clinics but have four. As a result, young people in the county are waiting for urgent attention for their teeth. I ask the Taoiseach to do something to highlight the issue with the Health Service Executive.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I appreciate this is an important matter and a concern for the Deputy's constituents. However, the configuration of dental clinics between counties Cork and Kerry is not a matter that falls within my remit. I will ask the Minister for Health to contact the Deputy on the matter.

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