Scheme paid 26 dentists over €90,000 each

Some 26 dentists earned more than €90,000 each in fees from the dental benefit scheme for PRSI workers last year, according to official figures.

In total, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs paid out €34.35 million last year in respect of dental treatment under the scheme. This works out at an average payment of €30,780 per dentist.

Most of the 1,116 dentists who received payment under the scheme last year also earn fees from private practice. In addition, most dentists receive payments for the treatment of medical card patients under the dental treatment services scheme operated by the health boards.

Total payments under this scheme amounted to €41 million last year paid to some 1,200 dentists, which works out at an average payment per dentist of €34,000.

The biggest amount paid out under the PRSI scheme, for €180,722.41, went to Mr E. Murphy in Drogheda, Co Louth, according to figures supplied by the Department. The next-largest payment, for €173,962.17, was made to Mr P. Coffey in Dublin. Other large payments were made to Mr T. O'Brien in Co Waterford (€136,387.18), Mr W. Hayes in Dublin (€133,916.05) and Mr J. Mullane in Newcastle West, Co Limerick (€129,172.75).

Twenty per cent of payments made under the scheme were for smaller amounts, under €10,000. Of the treatments carried out under the scheme, 46 per cent were free to the patient and 44 per cent were subject to additional charges at fixed rates, which yielded another €13 million in payments.