Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of dental practitioners who have ceased business to date in 2010; her view on whether cutbacks to the dental treatment benefit scheme and dental treatment services scheme have been primarily responsible for many of these closures; if she will consider reversing the measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35722/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I have no information on the number of private dental practices which have ceased business this year. Private dental practitioners provide dental treatment under contract through the Dental Treatment Services scheme (DTSS) operated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme (DTBS), which is the responsibility of the Minster for Social Protection. In 2009 there was a net increase of 233 dentists contracted to provide services under the DTSS and a net increase of 116 dentists contracted to provide services under the DTBS. During the period January to September 2010 an additional 104 dentists were contracted to provide services under the DTSS and 26 dentists terminated their contracts. In the DTBS an additional 91 dentists have been contracted to provide services this year and 93 have terminated their contracts.

The Government's decision to limit the funding available to the 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. While the HSE has introduced measures to contain DTSS expenditure at the 2008 level of approximately €63 million it is projected that expenditure on the DTSS will reach €79 million by the end of the year. There are no plans to reverse these measures.

Changes were also made to the DTBS, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Social Protection, to save money as the Social Insurance Fund, which funds the scheme, was running a deficit for the first time in a number of years. It is expected that dentists will receive payments of €105 million (DTSS: €79m; DTBS €26m) this year from the two schemes. It should be noted that the income derived from state schemes does not represent the total income received by dentists, as many have private practices.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35726/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide information regarding public hospital waiting lists for surgery (details supplied). [35736/10]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide information regarding public hospital waiting lists (details supplied). [35737/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.

The management of waiting lists generally is a matter for the HSE and the individual hospitals concerned. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the Executive for direct reply.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if persons attending psychiatric clinics at their local health centres will no longer be entitled to a free prescription for their necessary medication; if local pharmacies will no longer provide this medication free of charge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35740/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Medical card holders are required to pay a 50c charge for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €10 per month for each person or family. Administrative arrangements in relation to mental health clinics are a service matter and the Deputy's question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.