Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to thank Deputy Kitt for the opportunity to address the issue of the school dental service in Gort and south Galway. I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is in the Seanad at present.

Dental services for children up to 16 years of age and people of all ages with special needs are provided by the public dental service of the HSE through its dental clinics. These dental clinics provide a screening and fissure sealant programme for children at key stages of development, aged between 6 and 8 and between 11 and 13. The service includes referral for further treatment, including orthodontic treatment where necessary. Emergency care for children up to 16 years of age and treatment for special needs patients are also provided.

A reduction in staff numbers since 2010 has led to a reduced service in all Galway schools. The HSE is aware of this difficulty and is currently taking steps to reverse it. There are particular challenges in recruiting staff to work in more remote rural areas but, nevertheless, a recruitment drive is now under way. It will take some time to fully realise the gain associated with the new staff, but the next school year, 2016-17, will see the benefits of this campaign.

In the meantime and for the current school year the objectives are to assess and treat sixth class children in all Galway schools; to assess the same schoolchildren for orthodontic need and refer, as necessary, to the local orthodontic service, to provide a dental service for patients with special needs, and to maintain an emergency dental service.

Prioritisation of the older age group does not mean younger children will not be screened. However, it is particularly important that children are referred for any necessary treatment before the age of 16 years as their eligibility for referral ends at that stage. Where extra capacity is available, it is being targeted at isolated schools. Given the additional challenges of providing an emergency service to isolated areas, such as Clifden and the Aran Islands, they are prioritised for preventative services where resources are available. This work also involves addressing a backlog of some children who had not been seen in sixth class.

To strengthen the service in County Galway, a programme of renovation of dental clinics and the provision of new developments is under way. The renovation of the dental clinic at Merlin Park in the east of Galway city is finished and the renovation of the dental clinic in Shantalla Health Centre is to be completed by the end of January. More clinics are also under consideration, including in Tuam, County Galway. I am confident these measures will result in improved services for all children in the area in due course.

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