Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a medical card will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24261/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive it is not possible for the Executive to supply the information requested. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the provision of dentures and teeth cleaning have been withdrawn under the medical card scheme; if she will restore provision of same to medical card holders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24279/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The Government's decision to limit the funding available to the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) was made in view of the current position of the public finances and the 60% increase in expenditure in the DTSS over the past five years. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has introduced measures to contain DTSS expenditure at the 2008 level of approximately €63 million.

The provision and repair of dentures has not been withdrawn but will be provided in cases of clinical emergency. Under the new measures the range of treatments available are being prioritised. These measures have been introduced to protect access to emergency dental care for medical card holders and to safeguard services for children and special needs groups. The HSE will monitor the ongoing effect of these changes from a clinical and budgetary perspective. The dental and oral health services currently provided through the HSE Public Dental Service will not be affected by these changes to the DTSS.