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Dental Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Questions (1925, 1926, 2135, 2212, 2243, 2295, 3190)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

1925. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 616 of 5 May 2021, the status of the review of the dental treatment services scheme; the timeline for the review; the terms of reference for the review; the person or body that will be carry out the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35878/21]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

1926. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the analysis his Department has carried out or commissioned into participation by dentists in the dental treatment services scheme; his plans to facilitate an increase in participation by dentists in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35879/21]

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Matt Shanahan

Question:

2135. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the status of medical card holders with respect to dental treatment; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many dentists are no longer accepting medical cards as a payment means for dental procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36651/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

2212. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that certain dentists are refusing to carry out dental treatments for medical card holders unless they pay for the treatment themselves citing the recent cyber-attack; the steps he is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36971/21]

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Matt Shanahan

Question:

2243. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the present status of medical card holders with respect to dental treatment; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that dentists are no longer accepting medical cards as a payment means for dental procedures; if his Department is responsible for any new orders with respect to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36645/21]

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Seán Sherlock

Question:

2295. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of talks with dental representatives in regard to the medical card scheme. [37279/21]

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Paul McAuliffe

Question:

3190. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the position regarding reported refusal by some dental practices to accept appointment requests from medical card holders; the responsibilities which dental practices have to medical card holders who request appointments and subsequently require treatment; the dental services which are currently covered by the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40646/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1925, 1926, 2135, 2212, 2243, 2295 and 3190 together.

Approximately 1,200 contracted dentists provide oral healthcare to medical card holders under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS). From March 2020 until the end of April 2021, approximately 200 dentists left the Scheme. A further 112 applications for new contracts have been received. The HSE will assist anyone experiencing problems accessing a service.

The approach to future oral health service provision will be aligned with Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy (2019). The aim of the policy is to develop a model of care that will enable preventative approaches to be prioritised, improve access, and support interventions appropriate to current and future oral health needs.

I am committed to ensuring the sustainability of the DTSS, but recognise that it needs to be aligned with the new Policy. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the roll-out of the National Oral Health Policy to be delayed, and the proposed review of the DTSS contract to be deferred. However, Officials in my Department and from the HSE are currently engaging with the Irish Dental Association on matters relating to the provision of services under the DTSS.

Question No. 1926 answered with Question No. 1925.
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