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Dental Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022

Thursday, 2 June 2022

Ceisteanna (402)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

402. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if detailed consideration will be given to issues outlined by a national representative organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28816/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Both I and the Government have been concerned for some time that medical card patients in some parts of the country have been experiencing problems in accessing dental services. The problem became particularly acute over the last couple of years as a significant number of contracted dentists chose to opt out of the DTSS. The Government is committed to reform in oral health provision in accordance with the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte.

I secured an additional €10 million in Budget 2022 to provide for expanded dental health care for medical card holders including the reintroduction of Scale and Polish.

To address the concerns of contractors about the viability of the Scheme, I am using an estimated €16 million of an underspend in this year’s estimate allocation (€56 million) to award fee increases across a number of items including fillings and restorations. The combination of these two measures represents an estimated total additional investment of €26 million in the Scheme this year over and above what was spent on the Scheme in 2021, €40 million.

Following consultation with the Irish Dental Association, these new measures came into effect on 1st May.

These measures that I have announced are interim measures, designed to address immediate concerns with the Scheme, pending a more substantive reform of dental services to align with the National Oral Health Policy. 

My Department is committed to an integrated health and social care workforce planning approach. This will include strong engagement with key stakeholders including the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Higher Education Authority, the HSE, and other government departments to ensure that sufficient workers are being trained in the right disciplines to meet population needs and to agree new ways of training multidisciplinary teams.

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