Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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861. To ask the Minister for Health the funding for the Health Service Executive orthodontic service in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; the cost of extending the direct provision of orthodontic treatment to children with less severe needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10359/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need are provided with treatment by the HSE. Annual spending on the Orthodontic Services has been approximately €16 million in recent years. There is a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to provide timely access to orthodontic care. The cost of providing orthodontic treatment to other patients would depend on the extent to which such a service would be provided and the cost of contracting such services. 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.