My Department is committed to an integrated health and social care workforce planning approach, which will be progressed in the context of strong engagement with key stakeholders across government including the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Higher Education Authority, the HSE, and other government departments to ensure that sufficient workers are being trained in the right disciplines to meet population needs and to agree new ways of training multidisciplinary teams.
I am aware of the need of a suitably skilled workforce to provide appropriate oral healthcare across all settings. I recognise the need for specific workforce planning for oral health.
My Department has had recent engagements with the Irish Dental Association in relation to the Dental Treatment Services Scheme. The Government is committed to the reform of dental services to align with the National Oral Health Policy Smile agus Sláinte, including the development of a dental workforce plan. This will require continued engagement with all dental stakeholders.