Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 770: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the implementation of the dental treatment benefit scheme for 2010; if she will confirm that the scheme will be available in 2010 to those who have paid for this treatment through PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1630/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Treatment Benefit scheme is paid from the Social Insurance Fund (SIF).

Although the SIF has operated a surplus since 1996, this position began to change last year, and expenditure had to be partially funded from the accumulated Exchequer surplus. It is estimated that the accumulated surplus will be completely exhausted in the first half of 2010, and that Exchequer will be required to subvent the SIF by around €1.2 billion.

Having regard to the current economic climate the Government had to take difficult decisions in Budget 2010 to ensure that the public finances are put on a stable basis. In this context it was necessary to revise the Treatment Benefit scheme to provide for dental examination only for 2010.

The scheme will be reviewed again towards the end of the year, taking account of the prevailing circumstances at that time.