Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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1281. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in County Wexford which have ceased providing medical card services to persons with disabilities in the past 36 months; the medical card dental services that are currently available to adult persons with disabilities; the provision in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63653/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. More complex care, such as dentures, is also available. Patients with additional needs can access a broader range of treatments.

The DTSS is a “choice of dentist” scheme which does not require the patient to register with a particular dentist and enables medical card holders, including those with additional needs, to attend any DTSS contractor directly without recourse to the HSE. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances, the HSE directly assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by contacting private contractors or arranging treatment through HSE-employed dentists.

Adults with additional needs who cannot receive care in a general dental practice setting may need special care services provided via the HSE Public Dental Services. A general dental practitioner or a GP can refer a patient to the HSE for receipt of special care services. A patient or caregiver can also make contact with the HSE directly. These patients who have additional needs are given an oral health examination and have their treatment provided using additional supports where necessary. Supports to care include Relative Analgesia, IV sedation and Dental General Anaesthetic.

I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly with the service-related information sought.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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1282. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in County Wexford which have ceased providing medical card services in the past 36 months; the medical card dental services that are currently available to medical card users; the provision in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63654/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. More complex care, such as dentures, and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients are also available. 

The DTSS is a “choice of dentist” scheme which does not require the patient to register with a particular dentist and enables medical card holders to attend any DTSS contractor directly without recourse to the HSE. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances the HSE directly assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by contacting private contractors or arranging treatment through HSE-employed dentists.

I am aware that there are some towns with no or very few DTSS dentists that have sufficient capacity to accept new patients. For this reason, €5 million of additional funding has been allocated through Budget 2023 on a one-off basis to support the HSE Public Dental Service to provide care this year, including through a HSE ‘safety- net’ service for adult medical card holders who are in need of emergency care and are still struggling to access a local dentist.

I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly with the service-related information sought.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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1283. To ask the Minister for Health the average number of sessions that are currently operating at Wexford General Hospital for dental services under anaesthesia per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63655/22]

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.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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1284. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with special needs who are currently waiting for dental treatment under anaesthesia at Wexford General Hospital; the number of children with special needs who are waiting 24, 36 and 48 months and longer, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63656/22]

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.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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1285. To ask the Minister for Health the number of adults with special needs who are currently waiting for dental treatment under anaesthesia at Wexford General Hospital; the number of adults with special needs who are waiting 24, 36 and 48 months and longer, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63657/22]

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.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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1286. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists by local electoral area in County Wexford at present who are contracted to provide dental services under the dental treatment services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63658/22]

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.

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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1288. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in Waterford city and county which have ceased providing medical card services to persons with disabilities in the past three years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to adult persons with disabilities; the provision in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63660/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. More complex care, such as dentures, is also available. Patients with additional needs can access a broader range of treatments.

The DTSS is a “choice of dentist” scheme which does not require the patient to register with a particular dentist and enables medical card holders, including those with additional needs, to attend any DTSS contractor directly without recourse to the HSE. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances, the HSE directly assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by contacting private contractors or arranging treatment through HSE-employed dentists.

Adults with additional needs who cannot receive care in a general dental practice setting may need special care services provided via the HSE Public Dental Services. A general dental practitioner or a GP can refer a patient to the HSE for receipt of special care services. A patient or caregiver can also make contact with the HSE directly. These patients who have additional needs are given an oral health examination and have their treatment provided using additional supports where necessary. Supports to care include Relative Analgesia, IV sedation and Dental General Anaesthetic.

I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly with the service-related information sought.

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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1289. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in Waterford city and county which have ceased providing medical card services in the past three years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to medical card users; the provision in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63661/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. More complex care, such as dentures, and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients are also available. 

The DTSS is a “choice of dentist” scheme which does not require the patient to register with a particular dentist and enables medical card holders to attend any DTSS contractor directly without recourse to the HSE. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances the HSE directly assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by contacting private contractors or arranging treatment through HSE-employed dentists.

I am aware that there are some towns with no or very few DTSS dentists that have sufficient capacity to accept new patients. For this reason, €5 million of additional funding has been allocated through Budget 2023 on a one-off basis to support the HSE Public Dental Service to provide care this year, including through a HSE ‘safety- net’ service for adult medical card holders who are in need of emergency care and are still struggling to access a local dentist.

I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly with the service-related information sought.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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1291. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in Galway city and the rest of County Galway which have ceased providing medical card services to persons with disabilities in the past ten years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to adult persons with disabilities; the provision in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63665/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. More complex care, such as dentures, is also available. Patients with additional needs can access a broader range of treatments.

The DTSS is a “choice of dentist” scheme which does not require the patient to register with a particular dentist and enables medical card holders, including those with additional needs, to attend any DTSS contractor directly without recourse to the HSE. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances, the HSE directly assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by contacting private contractors or arranging treatment through HSE-employed dentists.

Adults with additional needs who cannot receive care in a general dental practice setting may need special care services provided via the HSE Public Dental Services. A general dental practitioner or a GP can refer a patient to the HSE for receipt of special care services. A patient or caregiver can also make contact with the HSE directly. These patients who have additional needs are given an oral health examination and have their treatment provided using additional supports where necessary. Supports to care include Relative Analgesia, IV sedation and Dental General Anaesthetic.

I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly with the service-related information sought.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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1292. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in Galway city and the rest of County Galway which have ceased providing medical card services in the past ten years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to medical card users; the provision in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63666/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. More complex care, such as dentures, and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients are also available. 

The DTSS is a “choice of dentist” scheme which does not require the patient to register with a particular dentist and enables medical card holders to attend any DTSS contractor directly without recourse to the HSE. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances the HSE directly assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by contacting private contractors or arranging treatment through HSE-employed dentists.

I am aware that there are some towns with no or very few DTSS dentists that have sufficient capacity to accept new patients. For this reason, €5 million of additional funding has been allocated through Budget 2023 on a one-off basis to support the HSE Public Dental Service to provide care this year, including through a HSE ‘safety- net’ service for adult medical card holders who are in need of emergency care and are still struggling to access a local dentist.

I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly with the service-related information sought.