David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I value independent practice and the work dentists do and have engaged with the IDA on several occasions. There is a difficulty, however. When members of this committee are contacted by patients and medical card holders who cannot get access to care, we have to try to solve the problem. As there are not enough public dentists, we are reliant on independent practice to resolve this problem. There is a need to hire more public dentists but doing so will take time. They will not be in place any time soon to resolve this issue. I have made this point to the Minister. Mr. Hourihan referred to a lack of trust. I understand from where that has come but there needs to be a resolution for the patients who may have to travel for treatment, wait longer for it or go without. There has to be goodwill, particularly from the Department and the Minister, but also from dentists to try to find a resolution. Apart from the voucher scheme, which may or may not be a runner with the current Government or the Department and on which there have been no discussions, as Mr. Hourihan stated, are there options, tweaks or changes that can be made to encourage dentists back into the scheme?