John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the dispute with dentists on provision of services to medical card holders; if data on the number of dentists who have withdrawn services are available; the basis of the dispute; if there is a considerable difference in fees paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and her Department; if emergency services will be made available to medical card holders who require same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18364/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Dental Treatment Service Scheme (DTSS) provides for a range of dental services for adult medical card holders from participating dentists holding contracts with the Health Service Executive (HSE). The DTSS Review Group was established in May 2006 to undertake a comprehensive review of Primary Care Oral Health Services provided under the DTSS. Represented on the Review Group are the HSE, the Health Service Employers Agency, the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, the Department of Finance and the Irish Dental Association (IDA). The Group is chaired by Mr Finbar Flood.

Since the Group was established, a legal issue has arisen with regard to the Competition Act 2002 as it relates to the negotiation of professional fees. It would be incorrect to state that there is a dispute with dentists generally in the scheme. The issues involved are complex and my officials are working with the Attorney General's office to clarify the way forward. The existing contractual arrangements with private dental practitioners under the DTSS for provision of dental services to eligible patients remain in place although I am aware that some dentists have indicated that they wish to resign from this scheme.

It should be noted that dentists withdrawing from the scheme are obliged to work a three months notice period. To date, 75 of those dentists who have indicated they will withdraw from the DTSS have actually done so; the total number of dentists in the DTSS is 1,198. It should also be noted that the Primary Care Reimbursement Service of the HSE (formerly the GMS) has not noticed any significant decrease in either the number of claims or the amounts paid to dentists under the DTSS. I am informed by the HSE that they are continuing to monitor service levels and have not arrived at a stage where they have to institute emergency services.

It is difficult to make a comparison between fee payments made under the schemes as there is a difference in the overall fees paid under the DTSS and the DTBS. This is due to the top up fee paid by patients under the DTBS. Also, the fees paid by patients under the DTBS can also vary depending on geographic location.