Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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359. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing free dental care for children aged six, seven and eight years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53733/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A targeted fissure sealant programme is provided for children usually in 2nd and 6th class in primary school (when children are generally aged between 6 to 8 and 11 to 13 years of age). In addition, a screening programme is provided for these same classes (age groups) with necessary interventions for permanent teeth including fillings and extractions. Treatment of pain and emergency treatment is provided to children up to 16 years of age. The services are provided by the Public Dental Service of the HSE which has a budget of approximately €70m to cover services for children and people with special needs.

The cost of providing any additional dental care to children would depend on a number of factors, including the underlying oral health of the population group, what such a service would include and how it would be provided. Future service provision will be informed by the National Oral Health Policy, which will be published early in 2019.