Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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860. To ask the Minister for Health the funding for the public dental service in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; his plans to increase this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10358/16]

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 budget for the Public Dental Service is approximately €60 million per year. 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 very young children. This is in keeping with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to introduce a comprehensive preventive dental health programme for children under 12.

I have asked the HSE to write directly to the Deputy with the specific information requested. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.