David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The figures I have been given show that from 2015 to 2020 there was a 31% drop-off of dentists from dental treatment service scheme contracts, going from 1,847 to 1,279. That reduction was significant. The Irish Dental Association also said that some of the contracts are what it would call "inactive". I have received many representations from patients who are medical card holders and who have had difficulties in this area. It was characterised in the opening statement as some patients experiencing difficulties, and then put it back on the patients themselves to contact the HSE. That is not the problem. The problem is systemic and it goes back to the resourcing of the contract. That is the problem. It needs to be dealt with. The Irish Dental Association is saying that we are facing an unprecedented crisis - a full-blown resourcing crisis - and that there is a real difficulty with this scheme.