Written answers
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Department of Health
Health Services
9:00 pm
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Health the number of recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children's report into orthodontic care that have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25925/11]
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Joint Committee on Health and Children produced a Review of Public Orthodontic Services in June 2005, which contained seven specific recommendations. The position in relation to each recommendation is set out in the tabular statement.
| Recommendations | Status of Recommendations |
| The existing guide-lines for Orthodontic Treatment (Categories A, B and C) should be replaced by the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need Code (IOTN) on a national basis immediately. Persons classified as Grade 4 or 5 under the IOTN in terms of the severity of their need for treatment should then be removed from waiting lists and given the requisite orthodontic treatment. | HSE Guidelines based on IOTN have been introduced. |
| The Minister for Health & Children should implement measures, as a top national priority, to ensure international accrediting bodies are given proper recognition. This recognition would then facilitate an increase in the number of qualified Orthodontists. | The Irish Committee for Specialist Training in Dentistry is the recognised accredited body in Ireland and orthodontic courses run by the Dublin and Cork Dental Schools have been recognised. |
| The Training Programme provided by a number of Orthodontists in the former Mid-Western Health Board area that was stopped should be reinstated immediately, with the requisite academic supports, as a means of further increasing the supply of trained Orthodontists. | This recommendation has not yet been implemented. |
| The outstanding issues at the Dental School in University College Cork (UCC) should be resolved as a matter of top priority so that Orthodontic training can commence there in the very near future. | Cork Dental School is accredited for training postgraduate orthodontic students. |
| Funding for Specialist Training Places (funded by the Department of Health & Children and attached to Health Authorities for a 3 year period) that was stopped should be reinstated immediately. In the event of the State having to provide funding for orthodontic trainees, these trainees should be required to have a public service commitment upon graduation. | The HSE has two postgraduate students attending the Dublin Dental School and Hospital course. They are due to qualify this autumn. Post qualification they are contracted to work for the HSE for a four year period. |
| A Chief Dental Officer should be appointed to the Department of Health and Children as a matter of urgency to replace the vacancy that has been there since 2004. The salary and conditions should be commensurate with recruiting a professional of the highest calibre with the requisite skills to deliver on a national dental strategy. | This is being considered by the Department of Health. |
| At least 5 additional Oral Surgeons and 5 Maxillo-Facial Surgeons should be appointed without delay to complement Orthodontic treatment services. | This recommendation has not yet been implemented. |
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