Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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1021. To ask the Minister for Health to set down the waiting times for orthodontic treatment currently being experienced by school children in the Health Service Executive west regions; the steps that are being taken to alleviate these excessive waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31505/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. It should be noted that the nature of orthodontic care means that immediate treatment is not always desirable. It is estimated that in up to 5% of cases it is necessary to wait for further growth to take place before treatment commences. Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need i.e. Grade 5 or Grade 4 are provided with treatment by the HSE. The information on waiting times for treatment for Quarter 2 of 2015 in the HSE West region is as follows:

The HSE has established a pilot scheme in Dublin North East which will involve the use of orthodontic therapists in the treatment of a number of eligible children. Consideration will be given to expanding this Scheme to other HSE areas in the future. In addition, a national procurement process is currently underway to provide treatment for certain categories of misalignment by a panel of independent practitioners under contract to the HSE over the next three years, with consideration of an extension to four years. This initiative will especially focus on those waiting for four years or longer. It is expected that this initiative will commence later this year and will have a positive impact on waiting times.