Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent)
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1125. To ask the Minister for Health if orthodontic treatment for children under the age of 16 can be expedited as children are suffering because of the lack of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55020/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have the greatest level of need and have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. I am aware of that there are currently significant delays in accessing this service and that the HSE has put in place a number of measures to address waiting times. These include prioritisation of the filling of permanent vacancies, treatment waiting list initiatives, services improvement initiatives and access to orthodontic services outside the jurisdiction.  

A current HSE procurement framework in orthodontics covers grade 4 patients (children and young people) who can been seen in community settings and have been waiting 4 years or more to commence treatment following assessment. Patients meeting these criteria can avail of treatments with a private Specialist Orthodontist. The grade 4 HSE procurement mechanism received additional funding of €4.1m in 2022 as part of the Waiting List Action Plan. Over 1600 Grade 4 patients have been taken off the orthodontic treatment waiting list this year through this initiative, which will continue in 2023.

The option of the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme may be available to patients, whereby patients can choose to go to Northern Ireland for treatment. This option is managed through a National Service and has a separate funding structure to the Orthodontic Service.