Irish Dental Association

The main features of the Budget for 2010 as announced today with direct significance for dentists are as follows:-

PRSI scheme (DTBS) restricted to cover free examination only from January 2010;

Spending on medical card scheme (DTSS) to be restricted to 2008 levels. In 2008. DTSS expenditure amounted to 63m euro while it was otherwise expected to rise in 2010 to 93m euro;

Professional fees paid to dentists participating in the DTSS and DTBS are to be reviewed;

Salaries for public dental surgeons and other state-employed dentists are to fall by between 5% and 8%.