Lisa Chambers
Ceist:168. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health when the Smile agus Sláinte – National Oral Health Policy will be implemented. [40304/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 3 October 2019
Ceisteanna (168)
Freagraí scríofa
On 3 April 2019, I published Smile agus Sláinte, the new National Oral Health together with my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
The Policy supports a preventive approach. It includes proposals for the introduction of packages of care for children from birth to 16 years of age to be delivered by contracted local dental practices and preventive packages of care to be made available for all eligible adults at different intervals during their life course.
The timeframe for the delivery of the Policy is 2019 to 2026 and the roll-out of these packages of care will take place incrementally over the next number of years. As the Deputy will be aware, the 2020 Estimates are currently under development and the funding of initial service measures targeted at younger children is being considered in this context.
Other priorities include a focus on vulnerable groups with the development of appropriate oral health interventions and clinical care pathways and a full review of education and training to ensure that the skill levels of the profession are commensurate with today’s requirements.