Mr. Fintan Hourihan:

That is undoubtedly the case because oral health is one of the areas of health where there is already a very clear divide between those in more deprived backgrounds and those who are better off. What is proposed in this plan will unwittingly make the situation worse. That will be the case particularly for children, and there will be resultant consequences throughout the entirety of their lives. The approach at the moment is a targeted one where children are all seen. They are brought into the HSE clinics and there is a follow-up if someone is missing on the day of the check-up.

In theory, children should be seen at three different age categories while in primary school, but that has not been happening because the number of dentists is insufficient. The ideal, therefore, is that children should be seen and there should be follow-up care and treatment. Education and information on the prevention of oral health problems should be provided on the spot. We understand that what is being provided now would be replaced by a model based on encouragement to visit a dentist in general practice. All of the evidence, unfortunately, is that those most in need, those who have the worse oral health to start with, are also the ones least likely to attend, even if such visits are free.