31 Mar - Dentists welcome extension of dental treatments to self-employed
Dentists welcome extension of dental treatments to self-employed
But calls on government to restore other treatments which were cut
The Irish Dental Association has welcomed the decision by the Department of Social Protection to extend dental treatments to the self-employed.
The IDA said Minister Varadkar's Budget announcement to increase spending on the PRSI scheme was a small but welcome first step in restoring state supports towards the cost of dental treatment which were previously available.
Dr Tom Rodgers, Chair of the IDA General Dental Practitioner Group said:
“IDA welcomed Minister Varadkar’s Budget announcement to increase spending on the PRSI dental scheme. It is a small but welcome first step in restoring state supports towards the costs of dental treatment previously available under the PRSI dental scheme.
“However, Dr Tom Rodgers, Chair of the IDA General Dental Practitioner Group said the funding which was now being made available by the state was still only a fraction of the amount cut since 2009. He said the cuts had led to a loss of €500m in supports to patients towards the costs of dental treatments.
“Following a positive engagement with the Department of Social Protection, the PRSI dental scheme will now be extended to the self-employed. Dentists who operate the scheme will have received letters from the Department informing them of this."
“The IDA has committed to further engagement with the Department on other changes to the scheme and is calling on the Government to restore further treatments on a grant in aid basis in the 2018 Budget.”