The East Coast Area Health Board yesterday described as "most unusual" and "surprising" the discovery of children in Co Wicklow having to wait over a year, and in one case up to three years, for a dental appointment.
In a statement to The Irish Times, the health board said: "When it is considered how many children we treat, it is inevitable that a very small number will slip through the net. We accept it is not good enough, and in an ideal world, this would not happen."
The health board called on parents whose children have experienced delays to contact them and they will remedy the situation.
Mrs Christine McCormack from Kilcoole, sent the form applying for an appointment on behalf of her daughter Jane when she was in senior infants three years ago. Jane, who will go into third class, received confirmation of her appointment just last week.
"It's lucky my husband and I can afford to send our daughter to our own dentist. There are plenty of parents that I know of that are struggling to get by and would depend on the State to provide such care. It's not really good enough."
Other children have been waiting between one year and 18 months. Some of the parents involved are now considering making a formal complaint to the Eastern Health Board and to the Minister for Health, Mr Martin.
A spokesman for the Minister told The Irish Times: "The Minister of course will give a reply if and when any submission is received from any party. Until that point however, the provision of the regional services is merely a matter for the relevant health board, and we cannot comment beyond that."