Dentists to consider Govt proposals

The Irish Dental Association's GP committee is due to meet tonight to study proposals aimed at ending the long-running dispute between dentists and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.

Minister Mary Coughlan drew up the deal last Friday in an effort to resolve the stand-off over the fees paid to dentists for treating patients under the Dental Benefit Scheme.

The majority of dentists withdrew from the PRSI-funded scheme last year in protest at the level of fees paid by the Government, effectively leaving 1.5 million people with no dental cover.