Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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720. To ask the Minister for Health his proposals to provide additional resources for dental services in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9829/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Dental services for children up to 16 years of age and persons of all ages with special needs are provided by the Public Dental Service of the HSE through its dental clinics. The HSE prioritises services within the available budget taking account of legislation, policy and key developmental stages for children's teeth. Additional resources have been released in 2015 and into 2016 to improve dental services in areas where there have been difficulties. A National Oral Health Policy is currently being developed which will update the Dental Action Plan 1994 with a particular focus on vulnerable groups including older people and very young children. This is in keeping with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to introduce a preventive dental health programme for children under 12 and adult medical card holders. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on resources provided specifically to Counties Cavan and Monaghan.