Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will reverse the changes made to the dental treatment services scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18897/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The decision to limit the funding available to the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) was made in view of the current position of the public finances and the 60% increase in expenditure in the DTSS over the past five years. The HSE has introduced measures to contain DTSS expenditure at the 2008 level of approximately €63 million. This reflects the imperative to achieve overall reductions in public expenditure while providing essential health services to patients. The HSE will monitor the ongoing effect of these changes from a clinical and budgetary perspective.