Offaly TD says solution must be found for medical card holders seeking dental treatment

Laois-Offaly Fianna Fáil TD, Barry Cowen, has said medical card holders must be allowed to avail of necessary dental treatment.

There has been a huge reduction in the number of dentists partaking in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) since the pandemic began.

Deputy Cowen commented on this following the publication of a research paper by Ciaran O’Neill, Professor of Health Economics at Queens University Belfast, which recommends a credit or voucher scheme.

Mr Cowen said "I understand that the report in question will be considered by the Department as part of its preparations for a substantive review of the DTSS to begin by the second quarter of this year.

"Having raised this issue with the Minister for Health, I am aware that his immediate priority is to seek to address the problem of medical card patients having difficulties in accessing a service in some parts of the country, a priority I share.

"To date, two rounds of discussions have been held with the IDA, the most recent on 17 Dec last when the Department and the HSE outlined provisional proposals to invest additional resources in the Scheme, including €10m provided in the Budget, on top of the 2022 estimate allocation of €56 million.

"I believe a further round of discussions is due to take place early next month. I welcome this progress and will continue to liaise with the relevant stakeholders until such a time as a viable solution has been found. ''