Mr. Fintan Hourihan:

A detailed proposal akin to the medical GP training scheme which involves rotations in the public service and general practice sessions was prepared in 2013 and formally presented to the Department of Health in the names of the Irish Dental Association, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland faculty of dentistry, the dental schools and, interestingly, the Dental Council. We were told that it would be considered in the context of the oral health policy, but it was not. The policy contains passing reference to training, but there is no comment on the proposal that was submitted with a probably unprecedented number of signatories, which is very disappointing. We can supply copies to the committee.