Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that dentists are refusing to treat long standing patients who are medical card holders thereby forcing them to either pay for treatment to which they are entitled or to find an alternative dentist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40862/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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My Department has not received any reports of dentists refusing to treat medical card holders. I would take any allegation of refusal of treatment very seriously. I would like to add that the number of dentists holding DTSS contracts has risen approximately 17% in the last year and there are now 1,275 dentists holding DTSS contracts.