Dental Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024

Tuesday, 14 May 2024

Questions (549)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

549. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on any discussions between his Department and the Irish Dental Association on further revision of the dental treatment service scheme; the plans his Department and the HSE have to ensure that patients in Louth and Meath who have medical cards receive the timely treatment they need in the interim; if he will provide the most recent figures on the number of registered dentists in the scheme in both Louth and Meath as of 1 May 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21198/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

It is a top priority for the Government to improve patient access to oral healthcare services through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile Agus Sláinte. Regarding service reform, the priorities for 2024, as captured in the HSE's National Service Plan, include:

• Development of a comprehensive phased policy implementation plan for the range of actions identified in the policy, including stakeholder engagement and resource identification;

• Progression of oral health and care packages for children aged from birth to seven years of age; and

• The design of clinical elements for reformed preventative care for adult medical cardholders as referenced in the policy.

As part of ongoing engagement with the IDA, officials from my Department met with IDA representatives most recently on Friday 12th April 2024 to facilitate the IDA to present its recent position paper and to discuss the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy.

I have asked the HSE to forward the requested data, the most recent figures on the number of registered dentists in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme in both Louth and Meath as of 1 May 2024, to the Deputy as soon as possible.