Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the waiting times for orthodontic treatment for children in each of the Health Service Executive regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34670/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Waiting times for orthodontic assessment and treatment vary across the country and within the HSE regions. In the Dublin Mid Leinster region, average waiting times for assessment range from 3 months to 12 months. The corresponding range for the Dublin North East region is from 2.5 months to 10 months. In the South the range is from 4 months to 12 months. In the West the range is from 6 months to 36 months. In the Dublin Mid Leinster region average waiting times for treatment range from 6 months to 36 months. The corresponding range for the Dublin North East region is from 12 months to 48 months. In the South the range is from 24 months to 42 months. In the West the range is from 10 months to 36 months. A more detailed breakdown of these figures is available and I will make it available to the Deputy.

Access to treatment is determined by clinical need. Waiting times for patients with greatest needs are generally shorter that the average. It should be noted that the nature of orthodontic care means that immediate treatment is not always desirable as it is often necessary to wait for further growth to take place before treatment commences.