Mr. Fintan Hourihan:

It sounds like this might be a case that would be appropriate for treatment under general anaesthetic in the facility in the Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. There have been delays in commissioning and opening that facility. Previously, up to 2014, there was a facility in St. James's Hospital, which saw 3,000 children and adults per year being cared for under general anaesthesia. It might not be fixed today or tomorrow, but, ultimately, the solution is to find a way to open the facility in the Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown because, given the parts of the country the Deputy is speaking about, that would seem to be the obvious place. I do not know whether there is scope for the patient to contact the HSE in order to gain access to the theatre in the Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, but the plan is for there will be a theatre that there which would allow care for dental patients under general anaesthesia.