Dentists urged to support PRSI scheme proposals

The Irish Dental Association has agreed to recommend Government proposals on the PRSI-funded Dental Benefit Scheme to a ballot of its 850 members.

The proposals were drawn up by Mary Coughlan, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, in an effort to resolve a long-running dispute between the Government and the IDA.

Last year, around 750 dentists withdrew from the Dental Benefit Scheme in protest at the level of fees they receive from the Government for operating the scheme.

The move effectively left more than one million people with no dental cover, despite the fact that they had paid for the cover through their PRSI contributions.