Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for conveying the response from the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and for her own words as a fellow Galway politician working on behalf of parents and children in this area.

There are two issues here. First, there is a need to update the legislation for the future as quickly as possible because this could happen again in Galway or in any other county in the country and parents and children could be left high and dry. Second, we have the issue of refunds vis-à-vis the costs parents have incurred not once, but twice as the Minister of State said. They paid up front, in many cases, for the work but were left high and dry unfortunately. Then they had to pay a second time. There is no assistance forthcoming and that is not good enough. It is not right that parents in our county of Galway had to pay twice for dental care for their children or themselves. The Department or a relevant Government agency must take a lead on this and ensure that these people are supported. If the insurer does not pay out then some other method must be found by the State to ensure they get a refund.