Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The dental treatment scheme is on the verge of collapse right across the State. The Taoiseach is aware of this because I have raised it with him several times. People with cancer, kidney transplant patients, people with diabetes and all medical card holders have been unable to access dental treatment for a year now. There are 2,500 children who have not had their first class dental check-up and 2,500 more waiting for their sixth class check-up, and that is just in County Louth. In County Meath, the figures are even higher. That is replicated right across the State.

The HSE has stated today that is is going to carry out a review in the second quarter of this year. Is it for real? That will mean that by the time the review is finished, people will not have had access to dental care for almost two years. Is the Taoiseach actually going to let the HSE get away with this and let it off the hook again, or is he going to pick up the phone to Mr. Paul Reid and insist that given we are now into the second year where people with medical cards and primary school pupils do not have access to dental treatment, there is an urgency with the review and it must be carried out and the matter resolved within the first quarter of this year?

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