Carol Nolan
Question:699. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health when his officials will next meet an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10290/24]
View answerTuesday, 5 March 2024
Questions (699, 784)
David Cullinane
Question:784. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when his officials will next meet an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10782/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 699 and 784 together.
On foot of a meeting between myself and the Irish Dental Association (IDA) in November 2020, officials in my Department engaged with the IDA to discuss and agree a package of measures introduced from 1 May 2022, to expand the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) for adult medical card holders and increase the fees paid to contractors for most treatment items by 40-60%. These measures have improved access to care, with 154,864 additional treatments provided and over 26,700 extra patients treated in 2023 when compared with 2022.
It is a top priority for myself and for the Government to improve patient access to oral healthcare services, through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile Agus Sláinte. There have been several engagements between my Department and the IDA on implementation of the Policy, including meetings with the Chief Dental Officer and other officials in the Department on 29th July 2022 and 2nd December 2022, and a meeting with myself on 24th April 2023.
My officials met with the IDA again on 24th January 2024, and discussed the range of strategic priorities comprehended by the Policy, including the modernisation of services, the reform of the relevant legislation and strategic workforce planning. Regarding service reform, the priorities for 2024, as captured in the HSE's National Service Plan, include:
- Development of a comprehensive phased policy implementation plan for the range of actions identified in the policy, including stakeholder engagement and resource identification;
- Progression of oral health and care packages for children aged from birth to seven years of age; and
- The design of clinical elements for reformed preventative care for adult medical cardholders as referenced in the policy.