asked the Minister for Health what steps are being taken to meet the serious shortage of dental surgeons in the public health services; and when he expects that there will be an adequate number available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shortage of Dental Surgeons.
37.
Mr. O'Malley
I am conscious——
That is something, anyhow.
Mr. O'Malley
——of the shortage of dental surgeons in the public dental service, and of the disappointing results of recent competitions conducted by the Local Appointments Commissioners for the recruitment of such staff. Since the shortage of dental surgeons in the public service is attributable, in the main, to the general shortage of qualified dentists in this country and in Britain, I am not in a position to say when an adequate number of dental surgeons will be available.
The steps to be taken to overcome this difficulty are at present under active consideration in my Department as part of the White Paper proposals for improvement and development of the public dental service, and I also intend to discuss the position with representatives of the Irish Dental Association at a meeting which has been arranged to take place very shortly.
Has the Minister any information as to the number of dental surgeons who left this country in, say, the past 12 months or two years?
Mr. O'Malley
Yes. I calculate that we are short at present in Ireland 275 dentists, to have an adequate service. The emigration rate of dentists is very high. In the period from 1953 to 1964, the average number of dental students who qualified each year was 54 and the average number of additions to the Dental Register in the same period was 27. From these figures, it will be obvious that half of our dental graduates are emigrating.
Can the Minister give the reason?
Mr. O'Malley
My personal opinion is that the remuneration is not adequate. I believe they are leaving this country because it is purely a question of economics. They are getting a great deal more elsewhere. My difficulty, too, is that when I gave a substantial increase to the doctors recently, I was slapped by certain members on the Opposition benches. If I try to keep the dentists at home, I shall be subject to grave criticism again. If we want to keep our doctors and dentists in Ireland for our people, we must pay them.
And our electricians, too.