The amount spent on dental care for medical card patients in Clare has risen by almost 40% in the year to November.
The latest figures from the HSE show that nearly €77,000 was paid to local participants in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme.
A total of €76,965 was spent on providing dental care treatment to medical card holders in Clare last month.
This is a nearly 40% increase on the €51,400 which was spent last November.
However, Clare has the fourth-lowest spend in the country.
Calls have previously been made for ministerial intervention into the low-number of dentists registered under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, with the latest report showing 16 participants in this county.
1,291 treatments were carried out for patients last month, 51% below the national average of 2,196 treatments.
Over €61,000 was spent on ‘above the line treatments’ and almost €15,500 was spent on ‘below the line’ treatments.
