Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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115. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to restore access for children to tooth extraction under general anaesthetic, as deemed necessary, in the Dublin area; the reason this service to the primary care dental services, available at St. James's Hospital, Dublin up to 30 September 2014, has ceased; if his attention has been drawn to the distress that this withdrawal of service is causing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42759/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The dental clinic in St. James's Hospital, which provided dental extractions under general anaesthetic for children in the greater Dublin area, ceased in October 2014 due to problems with the suitability of the building. The HSE is seeking a long term solution for the provision of a service for children with these needs. In the meantime, urgent cases requiring immediate treatment due to pain or swelling are being dealt with as necessary at private centres in Dublin and at no cost to the families. Parents who have concern in relation to this matter should liaise closely with their local public dental clinic, and particularly so if there is any deterioration or pain being experienced since their last dental assessment.