Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a long waiting list for physiotherapy treatment in Donegal Town District Hospital; if she will outline the availability of physiotherapy throughout Donegal; if there are plans to provide extra physiotherapists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24152/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The provision of physiotherapy services, and any matters relating to such provision, within its functional area, is a matter for the relevant health board or the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA. In the case of County Donegal, this responsibility lies with the North Western Health Board. In the circumstances, my Department has requested the chief executive officer of the North Western Health board to investigate this matter and reply direct to the Deputy.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been refused transport to attend an outpatient clinic. [24153/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of health services in County Mayo is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Western Health Board. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive of the board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply direct to him as a matter of urgency.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to put in place the pre-1999 training programme for orthodontics in the Mid-Western Health Board. [24155/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It is considered essential that specialist dentist in orthodontics training programmes meet internationally recognised standards. The Dentists Act 1985 provides for the establishment of the Dental Council which shall provide for the registration and control of persons engaged in the practice of dentistry. Under the Act, the Dental Council shall also provide for other matters relating to the practice of dentistry including "the adequacy and suitability of postgraduate education and training."

In accordance with the Act, the Dental Council established a register of dental specialists with a division of orthodontics in 1999. Under section 30(1) of the Act, only persons who have completed a recognised specialist training programme in orthodontics are entitled to be registered in this specialist register. I have no plans to review this operation at present.