Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2024
487. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2472 of 23 July 24, the progress of the orthodontic services waiting list initiative for grade 5 patients; the location and number of successful tenderers; when the first patients will be seen; the number of patients it is anticipated will be seen per year when this scheme is operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38806/24]
View answerHSE has advised that there were 16 private service providers awarded onto the Framework Type Agreement for the provision of orthodontic services for HSE Grade 5a patients. HSE is now progressing various business processes which are mandatory to ensure service provider compliance with legislation and for patient safety.
For 2025, €8.4 million is being provided on an ongoing basis to continue initiatives aimed at addressing primary care waiting lists for children. This ongoing funding will provide an opportunity to drive innovative solutions built on the learnings from previous successful Waiting List Action Plan initiatives to address the increasing level of demand for primary care services.
Once the allocation of this funding across primary care is finalised for 2025, the proportion assigned to orthodontics will be applied across the various available orthodontics waiting list initiatives in a manner that best addresses the current waiting lists, in terms of both specific clinical need and geographic spread.
