Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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154. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the vocational training scheme in dentistry which was paused in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15140/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A 12-month Vocational Training Scheme was available between 1999 and 2011 to dental graduates. There was limited interest in the Scheme, which aimed to provide a transitional year for newly qualified dental graduates to help them prepare for the running of a general dental practice or a HSE dental clinic service. In 2010 when 20 places were available 4 trainees out of 75 graduates accepted places. The Scheme ceased in 2011. Future education and training needs will be addressed in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills and will be informed by the National Oral Health Policy, which the Department of Health is currently developing.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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155. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of restoring the extended gum cleaning entitlement under the dental treatment services scheme. [15147/16]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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156. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of removing the annual cap on fillings which was introduced in budget 2010 under the dental treatment service scheme. [15148/16]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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191. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of restoring the bi-annual scale and polish entitlement, under the dental treatment services scheme. [15258/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 155, 156 and 191 together.

The Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Dentists) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 171 of 2009) set out payments in respect of services rendered by a registered dentist to or on behalf of the Health Service Executive under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), including restorations (fillings) and prophylaxis (scale and polish). The fee payable for an amalgam restoration is €50.06 and €51.88 for a composite restoration. The fee for prophylaxis is €31.00. Fees for other procedures, for which there had previously been regional variations, are set out in the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Dentists) Regulations 2011. These Regulations provide for payments for Protracted Periodontal Treatment Services of €26.36 per visit.

The cost of restoring treatments which had been provided before 2010 to all medical card holders would depend on a number of factors, including the underlying oral health of the population and the likely level of take-up of such services. The HSE continues to monitor the operation of the DTSS to ensure the most beneficial, effective and efficient use of available resources.

The Primary Care Reimbursement Service of the HSE regularly publishes detailed reports on expenditure. These reports are available on the following website, www.hse.ie/eng/staff/PCRS/PCRS_Publications.