Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 272: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the extent of the waiting list for orthodontic treatment; her plans to reduce and eliminate this list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2866/06]

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.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 273: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the shortage of radiographers here; her plans to address same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2867/06]

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. The Deputy may wish to note, however, that efforts have been undertaken in recent years to improve staffing levels in radiography in the public health service. The success of these measures have contributed to an increase at end-September 2005 of 252 radiographers or 32% over the number employed at end-December 2000. There were 1,033 whole time equivalent radiographers employed in the public health service at end-September, 2005. In addition, the numbers of radiography training places in both the UCD diagnostic radiography course and the TCD radiation therapy course have increased in recent years. In 2003, the annual intake of students doubled to 40 in diagnostic radiography and more than doubled in radiation therapy from 10 to 25 in 2001.