Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 253: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the potential to change the system through which orthodontic services are delivered will be investigated; and the need to respond to those requiring these critical services. [28886/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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 entitled the Moran report. The objective of this review was to ensure equity in the provision of orthodontic treatment throughout the health boards. Furthermore, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, OJCHC, 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 OJCHC's report and assess progress with implementing the Moran report. The OJCHC has also published a follow up to its 2002 report on the orthodontic service in Ireland.

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, have funded 22 dentists from various HSE areas for specialist in orthodontics qualifications at training programmes in Ireland and at three separate universities in the United Kingdom. The most recent group of 13 trainees have now completed their training and have taken up posts in the HSE since 1 October 2005. This means that almost half the orthodontists in Ireland are now working in the public health service.

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. The improvement in quality of treatment and numbers being treated is directly attributable to the steps that have already been taken and will continue to be taken to ensure ongoing improvements to the service. The addition of 13 specialists in orthodontics to the service since 1 October 2005 will have a further significant impact on numbers in treatment and waiting lists.

My Department has met the HSE regarding the latest Oireachtas joint 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 Oireachtas joint committee.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 254: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if free dental check-ups and treatments for children attending a small school (details supplied) in County Dublin will be arranged. [28888/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The statutory position governing the entitlement of children to dental treatment under the Health Service Executive, HSE, service is section 66 of the Health Act 1970 and the Health (Dental Services for Children) Regulations 2000, S.I. No. 248 of 2000. Section 66(3) of the Health Act 1970 states that "When the governing body of a school which is not a national school so requests, a health board may at its discretion by order apply this section to the school".

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.

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 255: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the reason methadone treatment is not available in many areas of the country; and the plans there are to expand this service. [28969/05]

Mary 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.