Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the restriction to just one annual examination for persons on the PRSI scheme under the dental treatment benefit scheme. [29525/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Dental Benefit scheme is paid from the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). Due to current economic conditions, the SIF remains under pressure and has required substantial subvention from the Exchequer. As part of a range of cost-saving measures intended to ease this pressure, the range of treatments available under the scheme was reduced in Budget 2010.

The free annual 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 changes to the scheme will have to reflect the economic realities of available funding and competing priorities.