Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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506. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the waiting list for orthodontic appointments for children in County Kerry given the waiting list is presently between 3.5 to 5.5 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12460/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the recently published Department of Health waiting list plan initiative for 2022, €11 million in funding is to be made available for identified community initiatives, with a focus on orthodontics, primary care psychology and counselling in primary care. A further €9m is also included in the plan to support priority community areas with activity levels to be determined. Funding for these community areas will need to be specifically used to support additionality not currently funded through the HSE National Service Plan.   

In 2021, the HSE commenced a new procurement that allows patients to have treatment with private Specialist Orthodontists. It replaces the previous procurement that ended in 2020. Under the new procurement the first patients were allocated to private Specialist Orthodontists in Q3 of 2021.  By the end of 2021, 870 patients had commenced treatment under these arrangements.   

The allocation of patients to private Specialist Orthodontists is continuing in 2022 and the HSE approved an orthodontic treatment waiting list initiative for Quarter 1 of 2022 that will see 750 Children and Young People assessed as Grade 4 who have been waiting over 4 years for treatment at a cost of €2.8m. In January, 261 children and young people have been taken off the orthodontics waiting list using private providers under this new procurement framework. The HSE are likely ready to commence the approval process in the coming weeks to continue the orthodontics waiting list initiative to the end of the year.  

The HSE advise that children who are 16 or under have access to treatment through the HSE for emergency treatment.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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507. To ask the Minister for Health the average cost per patient for orthodontic treatment carried out on children who were on the waiting list for time periods (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12461/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.