Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 196: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the level of dental health fitness obtained by primary school children when leaving school; if resources allow for best services to be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37820/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The management and delivery of health and personal social services are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Child health examinations are provided by health boards to children attending national school in accordance with section 66 of the Health Act 1970. Section 67 of the Health Act 1970 provides for dental treatment and appliances to be made available by the Health Services Executive in respect of defects noticed at an examination under the service mentioned in section 66.

Section 1 of the Health (Amendment) Act 1994 provides that the Health Service Executive shall make dental services available without charge, for children who have attended a national school or a school standing specified in an order under section 66(3) of the Health Act 1970. The 1994 Act also provides for the specification of the services to be provided and the ages of children who are to be eligible for such services. The regulations made under this Act — the Health (Dental Services for Children) Regulations 2000 — specified that 15 years of age is specified for the purposes of section 1(1) of the Act of 1994 and the following dental health services are specified for the purposes of section 1(1) of the Act of 1994: a dental health screening service; a preventive dental treatment service, and a primary care dental treatment service in respect of defects noted during a screening examination carried out under paragraph (a) of this regulation.

My Department commissioned a survey of children's oral health in 2002. The report of this survey is due to be published shortly. Preliminary results of the survey indicate that children's oral health has improved significantly since 1984. The number of decayed, missing or filled teeth, DMFT, in children has decreased significantly over the period. For example, the survey shows that for children of 12 years of age and who live in fully fluoridated areas the DMFT score has dropped from 2.6 in 1984 to 1.1 in 2002. The survey shows that for children of 12 years of age and who live in non-fluoridated areas the DMFT score has dropped from 3.3 in 1984 to 1.3 in 2002. In addition, the survey shows that 53.5% of 12 year old children living in fully fluoridated areas are completely caries free and 48.7% of 12 year olds living in non-fluoridated areas are caries free.