Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

Like the others speakers, I believe I was the first in the House to raise the pilot training issue last Wednesday. I am not satisfied it is being addressed with the urgency it demands. There seems to be an authority in charge of every second thing in the country. The Irish Aviation Authority appears to be washing its hands of this problem. The statement on its website suggests it is looking for other training for those students but it does not state that the other training colleges will not charge those students more money. This must not and, one hopes, will not be allowed to happen. I call on the Leader to ensure the Minister brings the Irish Aviation Authority to heel and determines whether the authority sought evidence, which it has the power to do, that this school had enough funds in its kitty to run the course and take on students. That is one of the primary aims of the Irish Aviation Authority but I am unsure whether it has done so. If it has done this, the money should be there to pay for the training. Why is it not there? The Minister must find out. There is no way those students can be asked to pay for it.

I wish to raise an issue with the Minister for Health. Why are people not availing of the free dental scheme? Only 600,000 people took up the scheme last year but 3.3 million are entitled to it. This is the only health area where, out of a budget of €63 million that was allocated in 2011, only €51 million was spent. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health about it? We know oral health is related to heart disease and every other type of health. It is preventive medicine and will save the country money. If one avoids dental treatment for too long, it becomes much more expensive. It is throwing good money after bad to say the only ones entitled to receive dental care are emergency cases. I ask the Leader if we can have a debate on this issue as it is looking at it the wrong way. We should be providing funding for preventive dental care services.