Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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37. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding dental treatment benefit schemes (details supplied); if she will restore same in the budget for 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38353/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The dental benefit scheme continues to provide for free annual examinations to qualifying customers who fulfil the PRSI eligibility criteria. The free dental examination has been retained in order to encourage people to continue to attend for check-ups and to ensure that good oral health is maintained.

Any changes to the dental or other treatment benefit schemes would have to be considered in the context of the economic realities of available funding and competing priorities.