Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

On behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, I am happy to have the opportunity to address the issue raised by Deputy Lynch.

The provision of orthodontic treatment to eligible persons in the southern area of the Health Service Executive is the statutory responsibility of the Health Service Executive in accordance with the Health Act 2004. The Minister and I are aware of the waiting list for orthodontic treatment in HSE south. We are pleased to note that in the period June 2002 to June 2006, there has been a decrease of 2,326 in the assessment waiting list in this area. At the end of March 2006 there were almost 25,000 patients receiving orthodontic treatment in the public orthodontic service nationally. Over twice as many patients are getting orthodontic treatment as there are waiting to be treated. Nearly 7,000 extra patients are getting treatment now compared to four years ago. This tangible improvement will be further enhanced as the HSE develops the orthodontic services.

Developing the quality, standards, treatment capacity and outcomes of our orthodontic services in a sustainable way are objectives shared by the Department and the HSE. To ensure the best use of resources and develop treatment capacity in a sustainable manner, guidelines were introduced by the Department to enable the HSE to prioritise resources for those with the severest orthodontic condition.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children carried out a review of orthodontic services in Ireland which culminated in the publication of its report, The Orthodontic Service in Ireland, in 2002. The joint Oireachtas committee has also published a follow up to its 2002 report in June 2005.

The HSE has established a national orthodontic review group to draw together an agreed national approach under four principal headings: guidelines, training, service provision and manpower planning. The group consists of representatives from the Department, the dental schools in Cork and Dublin and consultant orthodontists and management from the HSE. The Minister and I are advised that this review group will conclude its report in the coming months and that will guide the implementation of service improvements in the coming year in line with the recommendations contained in the joint Oireachtas committee reports.

Training more orthodontists will make a significant impact on the increasing demand for orthodontic treatment. Until recently there was only one centre in this country offering a postgraduate course in orthodontics, the Dublin Dental School. The HSE is now funding the post of Professor of Orthodontics at the University Dental School and Hospital in Cork to the tune of €1 million. This has enabled the establishment of a postgraduate training programme in orthodontics in Cork, which has commenced with the first intake of four postgraduate students this month. This training programme will provide services for an agreed cohort of patients on the north Cork waiting list, which will help to reduce the waiting times for orthodontic assessment and treatment in the area.

The HSE will recruit a specialist orthodontist to replace the dentists who have been successful in securing specialist training places. The HSE south is also developing proposals on a waiting list initiative to reduce waiting times and ensure that treatment programmes commenced by the two dentists leaving the service will be completed in a timely fashion. Orthodontics is unique in that the treatment period for a child is between 18 and 24 months and each year thousands of children, with varying degrees of need, are placed on assessment waiting lists. Our aim is to continue to make progress and to develop a high quality, reliable, sustainable service in HSE south and all other areas of the executive for children and their parents.

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