Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The treatment benefit is an important scheme for those who qualify for payment and for practitioners. It is the Department's biggest scheme in terms of claims, with more than 1.4 million claims received in 2021 and a total expenditure of €109 million. So far in 2022 some 1,342,000 claims have been received with a total expenditure of €102 million. The dental benefit scheme is the most popular component of the treatment benefit suite of schemes and, as I said earlier, 843,000 claims were paid this year, an increase of 10% on the previous year, with payments to date this year coming in at €48 million. The treatment benefit complements the HSE system of dental care by providing dental check-ups and a contribution towards scale and polish for eligible customers. Any additional oral healthcare can be co-paid.

I cannot understand how in recent months people with medical cards, particularly in my county of Galway, cannot access a dentist. Last Monday, I was with the Brothers of Charity at an award ceremony and it was the main item on the agenda. It is not the people with medical cards that is the issue here; it is the fact that they cannot get a dentist. Earlier this year, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, made an additional €10 million available and it did not address the issue. Given that €60 million was underspent last year in dental services, one must question the obligation of the dentists within this and their willingness to come to the table to assist in finding a solution when the most vulnerable who are in pain cannot get assistance. It is beyond comprehension.

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