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Fianna Fail
candidate Cecilia Keaveney has vowed to continue
lobbying for free dental care for expectant mothers
if she is re-elected on May 24th.
"I believe that expectant mothers should be
receiving free dental treatment during the period of
their pregnancy.
"I have raised this issue with both, An Taoiseach,
Bertie Ahern TD and Mary Harney TD, Minister for
Health and Children.
"I feel that this is particularly important due to
the increased risk of gum disease and increased need
for dental care during pregnancy."
She said she was disappointed Ms. Harney had no
current
plans to introduce such a scheme.
But she said it would be an opportunity to build on
the increased maternity benefits "already introduced
by Fianna Fail".
Among those benefits, she said, was the extra four
weeks maternity benefit in place since March 1st,
2007, bringing paid time off for working mums to six
months.
She said that, coupled with the increase in
maternity benefit to €280 per week, was part of "Fianna
Fail's commitment to value working mums who play an
important role in the Irish economy".
"No-one knows what the May 24th election will bring.
One thing is for
certain, there will be changes of many sorts.
"If re-elected I intend to use every opportunity to
ensure that my proposals are considered fully in
advance of the next Budget in order to build on the
increased maternity benefits which have already been
introduced by this Fianna Fail Government."
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