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

I thank the Deputy for his comments and interest in this issue. More than 300 dentists - down from 312 at its peak - 500 nurses and 600 hygienists work in the salaried public dental service. The budget is a little more than €60 million. The Merlin Park clinic has been renovated and plans for Shantalla are under way. Consideration is being given to Tuam, Roscommon and Boyle as well.

Orthodontic referrals are received by the HSE through the dental services schools screening programme. Referrals are assessed for eligibility under the modified index of treatment need, IOTN. In the western area, patients receive treatment more promptly than in most parts of the country, with 27% receiving treatment in less than six months as against 19% nationally, and 24% receiving treatment in six to 12 months as against 19% nationally.

I have noted the Deputy's comments about the split between dental and orthodontic services. That may be related to the fact a certain amount of orthodontic work has to go to surgery and, therefore, to the hospitals. It is something I had not heard of as a difficulty before. I will check it out.

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