Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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171. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to prevent further cuts to the Irish Dental Association to introduce a national oral health policy, reinstate preventive and restorative care under the dental treatment benefit scheme, appoint a full-time chief dental officer to his Department and reinstate the Health Service Executive vocational training scheme in dentistry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43873/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Irish Dental Association is a self-funded independent body.

The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides access to dental treatment for adult medical card holders. The service is provided by contracted dentists. The HSE prioritises for treatment patients with special needs, high risk patients and those who have greater clinical needs. The HSE will continue to monitor the operation of the DTSS to ensure the most beneficial, effective and efficient use of available resources.

Responsibility for the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme rests with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. Changes introduced in Budget 2010 restricted the treatments available under the Dental Benefit Scheme to an annual free examination. Over 2 million PRSI contributors and their dependant spouses remain eligible for the free dental examination and the other Treatment Benefit schemes. In 2012 almost 271,000 customers claimed a free dental examination at a cost of €8.9 million. While all Social Welfare expenditure is kept under review, there are no immediate plans to reverse the changes to the dental benefit scheme in the current budgetary climate.

The Department of Health has been unable to fill the post of Chief Dental Officer on a full time basis due to the moratorium on recruitment. Accordingly, it was agreed with the HSE that the HSE National Oral Health Lead would be released to the Department for two days each week to undertake the function of Chief Dental Officer, with effect from 20 May 2013. The arrangement will be reviewed after 3 years. Among the priorities for the Chief Dental Officer is the need to review certain aspects of oral health policy, including training. The Department of Health will engage with the public, the Irish Dental Association and other relevant stakeholders in developing oral health policy, ensuring equity of access and prioritisation of patients with greatest needs.