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News At One: Fintan Hourihan of the Irish Dental Association says that dentists have withdrawn from the scheme because of significant under-funding
The Health Service Executive has denied the Irish Dental Association's claim that medical card patients are experiencing long delays for dental treatment.
The IDA says almost one in 10 dentists have withdrawn from the State scheme.
Almost 200 dentists have quit the scheme over the past 18 months in a row over fees with the HSE.
The association claims this has resulted in long delays for medical patients, but the HSE says it is satisfied that there are enough dentists within the scheme to meet demand.
It pointed out that a number of new contracts have also been agreed.
It said this meant any reduction in the number of dentists operating under the scheme has been relatively small.
