Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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676. To ask the Minister for Health when a scheme will be operational (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53628/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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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. Referrals for HSE orthodontic assessment are made at the sixth-class oral health assessment appointment, if the dentist determines that the child may meet the HSE's criteria. All referrals to the HSE Orthodontic Unit are assessed by an orthodontist using standardised clinical criteria. Children whose treatment need is assessed by a HSE orthodontist as being Grade 4 or Grade 5 according to the HSE’s criteria are offered treatment through the HSE. No medical card is required for this treatment.

However, there are currently delays in accessing this service and the HSE has put in place a number of measures to address waiting times. These include treatment waiting list initiatives, services improvement initiatives and access to orthodontic services outside the jurisdiction for patients who meet the HSE's criteria.

In particular, there has been significant investment of €17m between 2022 and 2024 to support access to children’s orthodontic treatment. This funding has seen the creation of a new initiative supporting access to jaw surgery for orthodontic patients and the transfer of over 4000 patients into private, community-based orthodontic treatment. These successful initiatives are being continued this year through the provision of €2.85 million in funding nationally. Through these initiatives, 144 patients have been transferred to private orthodontic care and 51 patients have received jaw surgery nationally as part of their orthodontic treatment so far this year.

To support continued access to our HSE Regional Orthodontic Units, the HSE is also progressing recruitment of 3 vacant specialist orthodontist and 2.2 supporting dental nurse whole-time-equivalents.