Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the PRSI DTB dental benefit scheme for 2010; if comparison with the past five years can be given; if an estimate for 2011 can be quoted; if there has been any relaxation of the criteria or instructions to dentists as introduced in 2010; if there has been any study on how cases being refused treatment are being dealt with if presenting to HSE-provided dental service; if the name of each registered dentist nationally and the amount claimed by each in 2009 and 2010 can be separately listed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21290/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The cost of the Department's dental benefit scheme in each of the last five years was as follows: 2006 €59,362,816 2007 €64,859,786 2008 €69,377,585 2009 €71,728,066 2010 €34,208,932

The estimated cost for 2011 is €10,800,000.

There have been no changes made to the rules or requirements for dentists operating the scheme since those announced in Budget 2010.

Customers are refused treatment under the dental scheme if they do not meet the PRSI qualifying conditions, and those customers can apply for necessary dental treatment with the HSE if they hold a medical card. They will be treated in the same way as any other medical card holder, regardless of whether they had previously applied under the Department's treatment benefit scheme and not qualified. As the PRSI qualifying conditions remain unchanged, the Department has not undertaken any study of customers who do not qualify for treatment under the scheme.

Details of individual dentists and the payments they received from the Department in the last two years are available. However, given the numbers involved (approx. 1,700 dentists) I am arranging to forward this information to the Deputy under separate cover.