Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the situation of persons (details supplied) in County Mayo, home help within the region will be found; and if a further effort will be made to try and find somebody to provide the extra service to these people. [20930/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, 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, the 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.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if it is proposed to change the 1985 Guidelines for Orthodontic Treatment; the reason crowding was not included in the 1985 Guidelines; if it is proposed to include crowding as a requirement necessitating professional treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20931/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The aim of my Department is to promote the development of the treatment capacity of orthodontics in a sustainable way over the longer term. Given the potential level of demand for orthodontic services, the provision of those services will continue to be based on prioritisation of cases based on treatment need — as happens under the existing guidelines. These guidelines were issued in 1985 and are intended to enable the Health Service Executive (HSE), to identify in a consistent way those in greatest need and to commence timely treatment for them.

The HSE has informed my Department that it has established an Orthodontic Review Group. The terms of reference for the Group are:

—to review the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee Reports;

—to examine the recommendations within the operational remit of the HSE and to establish their status;

—to conduct an analysis of the HSE's existing orthodontic delivery structure and capacity. Based on that analysis, to make recommendations in that regard;

—the recommendations thus made to be costed and a time-frame for their implementation proposed.

The Orthodontic Review Group will report on its findings, including the issue of crowding raised by the Deputy, to the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE.