Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 26 June 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

National Oral Health Policy: Discussion (Resumed)

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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There could be, which is why I am pursuing the question. There could be a situation where the child may go past 12, 14 or 16 years of age while still awaiting an outcome - perhaps on very good advice. However, the child may reach the age of 18 or 19 years of age and be left with a serious problem that requires major surgery to correct, whereas if the service and attention had been available during that window of between 12 and 15 years of age, the effect on the child would not have been as severe and the outcome could have been much better. What I am trying to get at is the delay. Some of those cases cannot afford a waiting time.