Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the response by her Department to the recommendations made to her Department by the Competition Authority in its June 2006 report on competition in the optometry profession; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33319/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The executive summary of the Report to which the Deputy refers commences "The optometry profession in Ireland is an example of a profession where competition is generally working well." The Report makes five recommendations, four of which fall within my remit. The first of these recommendation is to "allow optometrists to provide State-funded eye examinations to children identified at national school exit screening". My Department has informed the Competition Authority that children over the age of eight years could be referred directly to optometrists from the school medical service. The mechanics of introducing this change are being examined at present in the context of a H.S.E. review of the role of the community ophthalmic physician.

The final three recommendations concern the removal of unnecessary restrictions on advertising, setting out the functions of the Opticians Board in legislation and changing the composition of the Opticians Board. My Department has informed the Competition Authority that these recommendations will be considered in the event of a review of the Opticians Act, 1956.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the response by her Department to the recommendations made to her Department by the Competition Authority in its October 2007 report on competition in the dental profession; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33320/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I welcome the Report on Competition in the Dental Profession prepared by the Competition Authority. I will consider its recommendations in the context of the National Oral Health Policy, launched by me on the 18th October last.