Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will issue a policy white paper on orthodontics in view of the critical delays and long waiting lists for school children in many parts of the country. [2447/08]

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 (February, 2002 and June, 2005);

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 finalised its report last year. One of the recommendations contained in the report relates to the guidelines issued in 1985. The Review Group made a unanimous recommendation to the HSE to replace these guidelines with new assessment criteria based on Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (ITON). The national implementation of the proposed guidelines will ensure equity of access to treatment for all patients deemed eligible. The Review Group report has been approved by the HSE's Management Team, and it is a matter for the HSE to implement these guidelines. Orthodontics is one of a number of oral health issues which will be examined as part of the development of the National Oral Health Policy, which I am committed to publishing this year.