Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way she expects to achieve savings of €30 million in the dental treatment services scheme for medical card patients; the services that will be withdrawn or reduced for medical card holders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25827/10]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the dental treatments that are covered under the medical card scheme; the treatments that have been removed from the medical card scheme in the past five years; the reason these treatments were removed; if she will ensure they are reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26255/10]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the definition of a clinical emergency regarding the provision and repair of dentures under the dental treatment services scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26339/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 172 and 189 together.

The Government's decision in Budget 2010 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 Health Service Executive (HSE) has introduced measures to contain DTSS expenditure at the 2008 level of approximately €63 million. Under the new measures the range of treatments available are being prioritised. Some treatments which had previously been available in the Scheme, for example, dental cleaning and polishing have been suspended. Other treatments, such as oral examinations and fillings, will continue to be provided but will be limited in number or frequency. More complex, non-routine treatments, such as protracted periodontal treatments, will be available only in the case of clinical emergencies.

In the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, an emergency is determined by the treating clinician, the contracted General Dental Practitioner, in agreement with the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon (PDS), or a delegate who is also a clinician. Emergency and/or urgent provision and repair of dentures will include circumstances which will impact on the patient's functional ability to eat and speak. Other clinical criteria, such as aesthetics may be considered as urgent issues since they may seriously impact on quality of life. As always, certain categories of patients who are most vulnerable, such as those with special needs, will always be prioritized for care.

Denture repairs will be carried out where in the opinion of the contracting dentist there is a clinical emergency. These measures have been introduced to protect access to emergency dental care for medical card holders and to safeguard services for children and special needs groups. The HSE will monitor the ongoing effect of these changes from a clinical and budgetary perspective. The dental and oral health services currently provided through the HSE Public Dental Service will not be affected by these changes to the DTSS.