Seanad debates

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Commencement Matters (Resumed)

Dental Services Waiting Lists

10:30 am

Photo of Martin ConwayMartin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I think it is my first time speaking in her presence in this Chamber. She is heartily welcome. I congratulate her on her well-deserved appointment. As a Deputy and as a former councillor over the years, I am sure she has experienced the issue I am raising today. Children who have difficulties with their teeth can become agitated, difficult and demoralised. Their parents can become anxious. They become worried and concerned. Many ordinary children who have braces on their teeth, or other dental difficulties, are bullied and suffer difficult challenges in school. We can imagine what it is like for children with special needs who have been diagnosed as needing urgent, detailed and intensive dental treatment. It causes awful anxiety and desperate worry for such children. Their parents experience unbelievable uncertainty, fear and anxiety.

I am dealing with a client, a child with special needs, who has been identified as being in urgent need of intensive dental treatment. My office has been in weekly contact with the HSE to try to get this child's dental treatment approved. We have been told it could take up to a year, which is an unacceptable wait for the healthiest, brightest and most confident child, but is just appalling and disgraceful for a child with special needs. I believe this case warrants a special intervention by the Minister for Health. He should direct the HSE to provide the funding that is necessary for this child's dental treatment as a matter of urgency. I have received the standard Civil Service replies from the Department telling me that this is a matter for the HSE, which is responsible for managing the health services. That is fine in ordinary day-to-day situations, but in a specialised situation like this the Minister can and should direct the HSE to put this case at the top of the queue. He should instruct the HSE to provide the necessary funding immediately. I look forward to getting a favourable reply from the Minister of State on this specific case.

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