Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 645: To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding dental health [32228/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The National Oral Health Office of the HSE issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to dental contractors in November 2011 to support equitable and priority funding and to provide clear guidance to dentists on the application of DTSS prior approval requests.The SOPs provide for the prioritisation for treatment of high risk patients. These patients receive a wider range of services, including all fillings as required and more complex care such as root canal treatment, gum treatment and dentures. The Table below shows the effect on access to treatment since the introduction of the SOPs:

Neither my Department nor the HSE have any function in relation to the running of dentists' private practices.However, the Deputy may wish to note that expenditure on the DTSS in 2012 is projected to be at the 2008 level of €63 million.