Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive orthodontic treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10308/07]

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.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 478: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the revised guidelines for orthodontic services have been prepared; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10309/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) established an Orthodontic Review Group in 2006. The Group was broadly representative of the orthodontic profession and also included representation from the HSE, my Department and the dental schools. The terms of reference for the group were:

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 Review Group has finalised its report and it has been approved by the HSE Management Team. The Report has recently been published. I understand that the Group has made recommendations with regard to the guidelines to be used for assessing patients for orthodontic treatment. It is a matter for the HSE to implement these guidelines.