Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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623. To ask the Minister for Health his views on situations in which Health Service Executive dentists visit primary schools and identifiy children whose adult teeth have decayed and recommend that these children visit private dentists without any financial support from the HSE even for families covered by medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2737/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Public Dental Service of the HSE provides dental services for children and patients with special needs. In some areas the priority is emergency care, special needs and screening of children aged from 11 to 13 years. Usually where a child has been screened they are provided with care for their adult primary teeth. In some cases it may be necessary to place a child, who has been examined through the school screening service, on a treatment waiting list. Treatment for a child who receives emergency care is generally confined to the relief of pain and sepsis.

The HSE Public Dental Service is currently being re-structured. It is expected that the new arrangements will facilitate standardisation of services available nationally.