Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will consider issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40239/10]

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

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Health and Children how a medical card holder who has been denied treatment under the dental treatment services scheme is expected to obtain the treatment they need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40240/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The Government decided to limit the funding available to the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) 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 protect access to emergency dental care for medical card holders and to safeguard services for children and special needs groups. Services for high-risk patients and those requiring exceptional care continue to be available. The remaining care provision, which is subject to prior approval from a clinician in the HSE, prioritises - high risk and exceptional patients, - patients requiring emergency care, and - patients who are considered to have greater clinical urgency and/or necessity in receiving care.

Treatments that are not available under the DTSS may be obtained privately. While consultation fees for such treatments are a matter between individual dentists and their patients, I would expect dentists to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting such fees. My colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation has also called on providers of professional services in the private sector to adjust their fees in line with the reductions in fees in the public sector.