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

I wish to comment on the subhead relating to ophthalmic and dental services. There continues to be significant concern - it even runs to distress - in many family cases where young people cannot access dental care through the public system within a reasonable timeframe. Young people are moving out of education without having significant dental work addressed. It is not simply a question of pain because pain can be measured in terms of physical and mental pain. Too often, decisions are taken to refuse orthodontic work that is sometimes described as cosmetic. For the young person concerned, male or female, it is far from that; it is about mental well-being, self-image and capacity to cope in life. I have seen the tragic consequences of the failure to face up to our responsibility to provide adequate provision to allow for address of these problems. These are sorry stories. I am anxious that this should be reflected not only in the provision this year, but that the Minister takes it on board if he is making these decisions for 2016. It is vital that we see a significant change in the provision for these services in the interests of young people in the future. What we fail to do now will result in other needs and issues presenting in later life for the same cohort of young people who we are failing through their education years.