Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join with the Chairman in welcoming all our guests this morning. Neither Mr. Hourihan nor I expected we would meet so soon when I made the proposition to accommodate a meeting at the earliest opportunity. I say "Well done" for stepping into the gap that opened up.

I have been exposed, particularly in recent years, to much of what Mr. Hourihan outlined this morning in terms of the impact on ordinary people. I am particularly concerned at the impact on young children whose lives are being blighted. It is only a number of weeks ago that I took the opportunity to meet with a senior colleague in Mr. Hourihan’s association in my constituency, with whom I have a respectful relationship, to discuss some of these matters. When Mr. Hourihan’s letter arrived it made every sense to follow through.

As I acknowledged last week, what I am exposed to is not unique. All Deputies and Senators recognise what Mr. Hourihan outlined. It is very depressing. I welcome the fact that he outlined a number of practical solutions. They will certainly not be a panacea but they could be pursued to address the difficulties that currently prevail. I refer in particular to proposed solutions Nos. 1 to 5 on pages 19 and 20. I propose that the committee forward them and commend them for consideration to the Minister. I put on record that logic dictates that we follow through on this excellent opportunity.

I do not propose to go over much of what Mr. Hourihan has put on the record; it would be only repetitious for me. I have highlighted a number of different sections to which, all too sadly, I can relate.

On a number of related areas, can Mr. Hourihan offer an explanation of the table entitled Orthodontic Treatment Waiting List 2012 on page 19? As somebody who resides and represents people within the north and north-eastern region, can Mr. Hourihan elaborate on the reason for the inordinate number of people on the waiting list within that region as against all of the others, with the exception of the mid-western region, or am I misreading the tabulated information on that graphic? I ask Mr. Hourihan to address that.

The fact that, in the main, children and young people in primary education are being seen perhaps once, and only in their final year, before progressing into adolescence and second-level education causes difficulties, particularly for those dependent on the GMS scheme - that is, families that are medical card holders.

A situation arises regarding the issue of orthodontic address. Generally, the rule of thumb is that we do not address children below the age of 13; it is usually those over 13 years of age. I presume it has to do with development and so on, but I was recently very upset about the situation that exists for a number of young people who are going into second-level education having only reached their 12th birthdays. I ask that that be taken into account. I suggest that children are maturing at a much younger age nowadays than when I was a young person at school. Their awareness of many issues is way beyond anything I could have imagined at the same age but, as a result, they are very conscious of their appearance, which presents difficulties. Our committee is a health committee. It covers mental health. I have seen damage to both the health and the mental health of young people as a result of the failure in the first instance of all of us to find the proper formula to meet their needs. Mr. Hourihan might address that briefly.

My last two questions are not part of what Mr. Hourihan outlined but are to do with issues we have addressed previously. Has the Irish Dental Association had complaints on a geographic basis about the delay in the processing of dental treatment services scheme, DTSS, forms? I have had this reflected to me, and there seems to be a very different arrangement in some regions as against the speedy processing in the greater Dublin area, where it is a "one out, one back" system. In some areas around the country a form is sent to this address to go on to that address to come back to here and so on. That is ludicrous. It is about the application of common sense.

My last question is in tandem with that. A previous issue this committee has addressed is that of dental technicians. There is a qualification now for dental technicians which allows them to deal directly with the public in the provision of dentures and related work. That qualification, recognition and application of the regulatory standards does not apply across the board, yet there are a significant number of dental technicians not so regulated who are still dealing directly with the public rather than coming through the principal dental surgeon locally. What is the Irish Dental Association doing about that? Regulation is a major area of importance and concern to this committee across the board. It is about not only public confidence but public welfare. I would appreciate any comment the witnesses have to offer.