Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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721. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) cannot have a procedure carried out by the HSE school dentist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15276/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE Public Dental Service provides a targeted programme which includes screening and necessary treatment for children at key stages of development. This is, children aged 6 to 8, 11 to 16 and, subject to capacity, 9 to 11. Emergency care is also provided for children up to 16 years of age and for those with complex and additional needs.

The HSE also provides orthodontic treatment to patients referred before their 16th birthday and who have the greatest level of need. The HSE will carry out orthodontic extractions for those patients who have been assessed by the HSE consultant orthodontist as qualifying for HSE orthodontic treatment. In order to ensure there is capacity to provide the targeted programme and necessary emergency care, the HSE does not generally provide orthodontic extractions for patients availing of orthodontic treatment either privately or through the Cross Border Directive.

I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly regarding the specific case of the patient mentioned, as soon as possible.