Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if scale and polish treatments under the dental treatment benefit scheme (details supplied) will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28757/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The dental benefit scheme is paid from the Social Insurance Fund, which has come under serious pressure in the current economic climate. As part of a range of cost-saving measures to ease this pressure, the range of treatments available under the scheme was reduced in Budget 2010. The free examination remains available to qualifying customers to encourage them to continue attending for regular check-ups and to assist in the early detection of dental-related health issues. Any future changes to the scheme, including the re-introduction of a free scale and polish, will have to reflect the realities of available funding and competing priorities.