Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
91. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on his efforts to increase the number of graduate dentists into the health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45693/23]
View answerMy Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services.
My officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health on determining the longer term skills needs of the healthcare services, and the role which the further and higher education sector can play in meeting those skills needs. I understand that the Department of Health is commencing work on a workforce skills assessment scoping project across the oral healthcare sector.
There is no quota placed on dental courses by my Department, and therefore the places offered are a matter for the higher education institutions, in line with their autonomy. However due to the high level of practical work involved there can be material constraints on the number of students that can be accepted onto dentistry courses.
For this reason, the Higher Education Authority undertook an Expressions of Interest process to identify options for developing substantial medium term additional capacity in a range of priority healthcare disciplines including Dentistry. In June the Minister for Health and I announced details of the potential options identified under this process. I continue to engage closely on this matter with Government colleagues to advance the process with investment to be considered in the context of an expected upcoming review of Departmental National Development Plan allocations.
