asked the Minister for Health if he will authorise the health boards to refund the cost of private dental treatment to medical card holders who have been informed that they will be more than one year on a waiting list for treatment.
Written Answers. - Dental Service.
145.
Health boards arrange dental services for eligible persons on the basis of agreed priorities. In view of the general shortage of dentists I am satisfied that this system makes the best possible use of available dental manpower. In these circumstances the arrangement referred to in the Question would tend to operate to the detriment of priority groups and therefore I would not feel justified in authorising its introduction.
In any event I would hope that improvements now being implemented in the public dental service will reduce dramatically the waiting periods which were formerly a feature of the service.