Written answers

Thursday, 29 September 2011

Department of Social Protection

Health Services

5:00 pm

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding access to dental treatment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26720/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The dental benefit scheme is paid from the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). Although the SIF had operated a surplus since 1996, this position began to change in 2009 and expenditure since then has had to be partially funded by the Exchequer. As part of a range of cost-saving measures to ease the pressure on the SIF, the range of treatments available under the dental benefit scheme was reduced in Budget 2010.

The free examination remains available to qualifying customers to encourage them to continue attending for regular check-ups and to assist in the early detection of dental-related health issues. Any future consideration of making changes to the scheme will have to reflect the economic realities of available funding and competing priorities.

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