Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will let the Deputy in for a second round. A few people will not show up. Deputy Carthy is taking Leaders' Questions, Deputy Munster has a bereavement and there are a few other gaps. I will try to get people in a second time.

Will Mr. Reid focus on the dental scheme? I will deal with the dental treatment services scheme, DTSS, first. The scheme does not exist in many counties. Nothing I will say is meant personally. I realise there are problems. We have a system that grew up from a certain place. That is what we have and we have to change it. Only 660 dentists were active in the scheme in March. That is 1,000 fewer than four years ago. Of those who are active, it is very difficult. It does not exist in some places. In Laois we have given up on it completely. Will Mr. Reid clarify this briefly? I ask him to keep his answers short, please, as I do not want to cut across him. In Laois and Offaly and across the country, if a medical card patient cannot get in under the DTSS, can he or she go to the health centre? Is the HSE obliged to provide emergency treatment for them? Yes or no?