Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 561: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality with regard to dental care, where a prisoner requires treatment beyond the cost limit set by the Health Service Executive, the options that are available to that patient. [34852/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The range of dental services available to prisoners reflects those available in the community under the GMS Dental Treatment Service Scheme (DTSS). This is entirely consistent with the objective of the Irish Prison Service to provide equivalence of care in relation to the provision of healthcare services comparable to that available to medical card holders in the community.

The DTSS allows one check up annually and permits two fillings annually. Additional routine fillings are approved if the patient has a significant medical history. Emergency care is provided for, which allows for extraction and repair of dentures. Where other treatment which falls outside the scope of the DTSS is required arrangements are in place where such a case can be reviewed and adjudicated by a consultant dental clinician.