Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1175. To ask the Minister for Health if she will examine issues outlined in correspondence (details supplied); if she is aware of the gap in service provision caused by the vacant consultant orthodontist post in the Navan/Dundalk area; if she considers the situation acceptable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47933/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Orthodontic Service is limited to those children with the most severe and complex orthodontic treatment needs. Referral for orthodontic assessment is usually made at the 6th Class oral health examination. The Modified Index of Treatment Needs (Modified IOTN) system is used in all regions to determine if a patient will be accepted for treatment. There are a number of categories within the Modified IOTN system, and these are used to prioritise care. Children whose treatment need is assessed as being in Grade 4 or Grade 5 of the Index are offered treatment with the HSE. No medical card is required for this treatment.

I am aware that there are delays in accessing public orthodontic care. There has been significant investment of over €17 million between 2022 and 2024 in orthodontics treatment waiting list initiatives. These initiatives target patients who are assessed by the HSE as being within Grade 4 of the HSE’s assessment criteria and whose care can be delivered in a community setting, as well as HSE patients who need maxillofacial surgery as part of their orthodontic treatment plan. In 2024, 511 Grade 4 patients were supported to access treatment in the private sector and 77 patients received maxillofacial surgery. These successful initiatives are being continued this year through the provision of €2.85 million in funding nationally.

The HSE has advised that there are currently staffing challenges within orthodontic services in the HSE Dublin & North-East region. At present, both existing Specialist Orthodontist posts in the Dundalk Orthodontic Unit are vacant. The HSE has sanction to fill these posts, and is actively pursuing both temporary and permanent recruitment options. In addition, HSE is actively working to recruit a permanent Consultant Orthodontist and a locum Consultant Orthodontist post is also being considered in the interim.

The HSE is also engaged to address the best use of the existing funded private procurement options, funded by the Department of Health, to support delivery of orthodontic care in the HSE Dublin & North East Region.

HSE have committed to contacting the patient with an update before 24.09.25.

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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1176. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 552 of 17 July 2025, and her Department’s reply of 23 July 2025 indicating that a successful candidate for the ophthalmologist post in Clonmel would commence duty in August 2025; the reason that no ophthalmologist is currently in place; the steps being taken to immediately fill this critical vacancy; the interim measures being provided to address the growing backlog of both routine and urgent ophthalmology referrals in south Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47946/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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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.