Dental care assistance

AS a parent of four young school-going children, could I appeal to the new Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, to change the present situation whereby children who enter the secondary school have to pay for their dental care, unless it is an emergency situation.

Within the primary school sector children are allowed free dental care through the local dental clinics.

Unfortunately parents, especially in this present economic situation, cannot afford to send the children to private dental schemes that are very expensive. This will result in children in later life suffering from serious dental problems.