Vol. 558 No. 1
369 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who was placed number 726 on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment with the Western Health Board on 16 September 2002 is still placed at number 726 on the list on 15 November 2002; the number of people who were removed from that waiting list in the two month period in question; and when this person will be called for orthodontic treatment. [23649/02]
The chief executive officer of the Western Health Board has informed me that at the end of the September 2002 quarter, there were 1,403 cases in orthodontic treatment in the board's orthodontic service. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the board's waiting list is not routinely collected by my Department. In addition, responsibility for the provision of orthodontic treatment to the person concerned rests with the WHB. Accordingly, the chief executive officer of the board has been requested to respond to the Deputy directly on both matters.
370 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason no reply has issued from the Western Health Board to a previous question (details supplied) placed on the discrepancy in their orthodontic waiting list numbers. [23650/02]
In view of the delay by the Western Health Board in replying to the original request, I have asked my Department to contact the chief executive officer of the board as a matter of urgency and I have been assured that a reply will issue immediately.
