From Radio Kerry website today;

25 Oct 2011

HSE centralising Kerry’s local dental clinics

The HSE is centralising Kerry’s local dental clinics to the county’s two main towns. The public dental clinics in Listowel and Dingle moved to Tralee yesterday, and Kenmare’s will move to Killarney later this year or early in the New Year. Sinn Féin TD for Kerry North West Limerick Martin Ferris is criticising the decision, saying it’s deeply disappointing. The HSE says it’s closing the local dental clinics because of new standards for dental provision in terms of hygiene, infection control, and decontamination. Services previously provided in Listowel and Dingle moved to Tralee yesterday; while the Kenmare public dental clinic will move to Killarney later this year or early in the New Year. Deputy Ferris says it’s deeply disappointing, and feels this will be a huge burden on people, particularly on parents of young children. He believes it may also force some parents to bring their children to private dental clinics, putting further financial pressure on them.

This seems like a retrograde step to me.