Written answers

Wednesday, 28 September 2005

Department of Health and Children

Health Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Paul Connaughton  SnrPaul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if an occupational therapy assessment will be arranged for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this family has been informed that their child cannot be further assessed by the Health Service Executive due to staff shortages; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that Enable Ireland is primarily dedicated to under 12 assessments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25641/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 221: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she has taken to address the problem of children who entered the State as unaccompanied minors going missing from the care of the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25731/05]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy

Photo of Peter PowerPeter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 222: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reform programme and specific actions which she will undertake arising out of the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children in relation to the orthodontic services here published in June 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26065/05]

Photo of John CreganJohn Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 399: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she plans to implement the findings of the recent report on orthodontics of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25372/05]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 423: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when she will implement the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children in relation to orthodontic services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25716/05]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 222, 399 and 423 together.

The recent report by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children is a follow up to its earlier report of 2002, The Orthodontic Service in Ireland. As the committee makes clear, the report should be read as an appendix to the 2002 report. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a number of measures have been adopted to improve orthodontic services on a national basis.

The grade of specialist in orthodontics has been created in the orthodontic service. My Department and the Health Service Executive, HSE, are currently funding 13 dentists from various HSE areas for specialist in orthodontics qualifications at training programmes in Ireland and at three separate universities in the United Kingdom. These 13 dentists will take up posts with the HSE on 1 October 2005. At that time almost half the orthodontists in Ireland will be working in the public health service. These measures will complement the other structural changes being introduced into the orthodontic service, including the creation of an auxiliary grade of orthodontic therapist to work in the orthodontic area.

Furthermore, the commitment of the Department to training development is manifested in the funding provided to both the training of specialist clinical staff and the recruitment of a professor in orthodontics for the Cork Dental School. This appointment at the school will facilitate the development of an approved training programme leading to specialist qualification in orthodontics. My Department has given approval in principle to a proposal to further substantially improve training facilities for orthodontics at the school, which will ultimately support an enhanced teaching and treatment service to the wider region under the leadership of the professor of orthodontics.

My Department has been informed by the HSE that at the end of the June 2005 quarter, there were 23,216 patients receiving orthodontic treatment in the public orthodontic service. This means that there are over twice as many patients getting orthodontic treatment as there are waiting to be treated and more than 7,000 extra patients are getting treatment from the HSE since the end of the June 2001 quarter.

My Department has met the HSE regarding the latest joint Oireachtas committee report. Since that meeting the HSE, in order to ensure ongoing training, has committed funding for the training of a further four orthodontists. My Department, in conjunction with the HSE, is considering each of the recommendations set out in the report of the joint Oireachtas committee.

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