Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Acting Chairman, who has an interest in this area. I am sorry the Minister for Health and Children is not in the Chamber to respond to this matter, namely, adults with special needs who require dental treatment. This may be as simple as fillings or cleaning, which many of us regard as possible within a general practitioner's practice or at a dental clinic without any trouble. For children and adults with special needs such a situation can be traumatic and lead to much anxiety. As the function can be difficult to perform, in many cases the dentist will recommend doing the work under general anaesthetic.

There is no service for adults at present at Cork University Dental School. By adults I mean those over 16 years of age. Services are available for children but none for adults. The lack of services has been highlighted on a number of occasions. Recently, a mother contacted the media about her 25 year old son who needs three fillings and a cleaning. She was told in January 2008 by a clinical dental surgeon that the son needed a general anaesthetic to provide necessary dental treatment. There is much correspondence on this issue and another letter states that as Cork University Dental School does not provide a service for special needs adults to have restorative treatment under general anaesthesia, the HSE is unable to offer an alternative.

When I asked a question of the Minister for Health and Children, I was told the dental school continues to provide a service to adults with special needs and will be completing the waiting list it holds. These are two completely different responses within the past two months, one on headed HSE notepaper, the other an e-mailed response to my parliamentary question. It is scandalous that we are receiving misinformation and conflicting information.

I want the Minister of State to tell me if there is a service. According to the information I have, there is not. There is not even a waiting list on which patients such as this can be accepted. If there is no service, when will it be established? It is urgent and necessary for the hundreds of people with special needs awaiting this service. It is unfair that we treat vulnerable members of our community in such a fashion. It is cruel and not in keeping with the kind of service we would wish to see. That we can tell them and their parents that there is nothing we can do and leave adults, who need something minor such as a filling or cleaning but which can lead to complications, without being treated is unacceptable today. I hope the Minister of State will not tell me that a service exists and that the waiting list is being worked through. I can tell him there is none.

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