Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the supports she has given to general practitioners and dentists here; the reason dentists received no supports towards equipment, accommodation and so on whereas general practitioners do, and as a result dentistry here is more expensive and unable to cope with subsidised services in Northern Ireland; if the matter will be explained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37995/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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There are significant differences in the contractual arrangements under which general practitioners, on the one hand, and dentists in private practice, on the other hand, provide services to eligible patients on behalf of the Health Service Executive (HSE). These differences stem from agreements reached with the respective representative organisations over many years.

Dentists in private practice participate in two State-funded dental schemes - the Dental Treatment Services Scheme for medical card holders, operated by the HSE, and the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme, operated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Approximately 1400 dentists participate in the two schemes. They are reimbursed on a fee per item of service basis and will receive approximately €150 million this year for services provided. The Competition Authority's report on dental services in 2007 identified a number of factors which contribute to the high cost of dental services in the State. The report, did not, however, cite the lack of State supports as a contributory factor.