A national dental health plan, Smile agus Sláinte, was published to less than enthusiastic response from the profession, largely due to concerns about resource.

THE slashing of 41 State agencies will be a “first installment” in a long term plan of reducing so-called quangos, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said last night.

REDUCING junior hospital doctors’ working hours without appointing additional consultants could force the closure of smaller hospitals.