Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the guidelines which are prescribed for the assessment of children to determine their entitlement to orthodontic treatment. [22261/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have arranged for a copy of the 1985 guidelines to be sent to the Deputy under separate cover.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 218: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has carried out studies to determine the way in which standards for orthodontic treatment in the State compare with European standards; the steps she intends to take to improve these standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22262/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Responsibility for standards for orthodontic treatment is statutorily vested in the Dental Council under the Dentists Act, 1985, Part II, Section 6(1). The Dental Council was established to "promote high standards of professional education and professional conduct among dentists".

In recent years there have been several reviews of the orthodontic service. Formed at the invitation of the Department, a group representative of health board management and consultant orthodontists reviewed the orthodontic service and produced a report in 1998 called the Moran report. The objective of this review was to ensure equity in the provision of orthodontic treatment throughout the health boards. Furthermore, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, JOCHC, also carried out a review of orthodontic services which culminated in the publication of its report, The Orthodontic Service in Ireland, in 2002. This was followed by a further review by the health board chief executive officers of the orthodontic service to consider the JOCHC's report and assess progress with implementing the Moran report. Finally, just this month, the JOCHC published a follow up to its 2002 report on the orthodontic service in Ireland.

All these reviews have examined, in depth, the orthodontic service and none has raised the issue of standards.