Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the policy of cutting treatments available on the medical card dental scheme; if he will reinstate the scale and polish scheme to ensure patients attend for regular cleaning thus preventing extra costs to the health service into the future; and his plans to carry out a cost benefit analysis of the cuts in dental treatment for medical card holders. [33523/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The current position of the public finances has led to a reduction in funding for the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) and a consequent reduction in the services available under the Scheme. However, the HSE has measures in place to ensure that patients with special needs, high risk patients and those who have greater clinical needs receive priority for treatment. In addition, a free oral examination every calendar year and free emergency treatment, with a focus on the relief of pain and sepsis, are available to all eligible patients.

While my Department has no plans to carry out a cost benefit analysis, the operation of the DTSS will continue to be monitored to ensure the most beneficial, effective and efficient use of available resources.