Ray Butler (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We talked this morning about child protection and child services. I wish to raise the issue of the HSE dentist system for schools. I am sure that many Senators here have had parents contact them, as I have, to discuss children with serious dental problems. They are basically assessed and put on waiting lists for at least five to six years. From 2005 to 2010, things were going well with the Celtic tiger and people could borrow money from their local credit union or the banks to pay for braces and all of that. We are talking about approximately €4,000 to €5,000 for a set of braces for a young child and the follow-on services. That cannot be done anymore. There has been no investment since 2009. Services have been closed. We have ended up with nearly a decade of underfunding in this system. As things get better, I call for funding in this area. I ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, to look at this issue as we approach budget time. These waiting lists cannot go on. There has been a decade of underfunding and we really need the system to come up to scratch. Young people and school children are suffering with this issue.