asked the Minister for Health if he will state his plans to increase the number of dentists in the country, in view of the fact that there is only one dentist to 3,650 of the population which is well below the desirable proportion.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Services.
6.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his question on 7th May when I pointed out that in the opinion of an expert committee of the World Health Organisation the desirable ratio of dentists to population for any country would be determinable by the local circumstances.
The number of dentists on the dental register, now 826, is steadily increasing year by year, as is also the number of dentists, at present 155, employed wholetime in the public dental service.
At present, I intend to continue to promote the recruitment of additional wholetime staff for the public dental service and am considering if further steps should be taken to improve the dental services. I am keeping the overall position under review.
Would the Minister agree that the desirable figure laid down by the World Health Organisation is one dentist per 2,000 people? As we are approaching twice that number, in other words, one dentist per 3,650 people, would the Minister not feel it is essential that we should increase, without delay, the number of dentists in this country?
I would agree that we should do everything we can in order to recruit more dentists. The Deputy is aware of that, having been told so on another occasion. There has been a steady increase in the number of dentists over the last eight or nine years. As far as the World Health Organisation is concerned, the Deputy may be correct but I am not aware that the ratio is one dentist to 2,000 people. In Ireland it is one dentist to 3,650 people. It is no consolation to say that we are still better than the UK, Belgium or Austria.
Is the Minister satisfied that the number of dentists qualifying each year is sufficient for the requirements of this country?
I am not.
Have any arrangements been made to increase the numbers qualifying?
I do not know how we can induce people to go into that profession. I do not know what the Deputy suggests.
Could there be an extension of the dental school with a view to doing this?
Yes, that is a possibility.
Does the Minister think that a fast decision on the Cork and Dublin dental hospitals would help this situation?
That does not arise on this occasion.
That is a separate question.