Professor Brian O'Connell:

We do not formally keep track of those numbers because we have no particular mechanism to do that. It is highly dependent on the state of the economy at the time. During the recession, when there were no opportunities here, the majority of graduates emigrated. In the past couple of years, the majority of graduates have stayed here because they can go right into practice.

To be clear about the foundation training the Senator asked about and what we are talking about, as was mentioned, when dentists graduate, the way the system is designed has worked well. When dentists graduate, they have an excellent set of skills that enables them to do a wide range of tasks. There is no evidence that there is any difficulty with that. If goes to the Dental Council and looks at who is appearing before its fitness to practice committee, complaints from the public or any metric, there is no problem with new graduates. In fact, in many ways the way they practice may be better and safer than established practitioners. What they do not have is the broadest experience of treating a wide range of patients about whom we have been talking here, for instance, people with disabilities, very young children and people living in residential care. If we are looking at a so-called extended year or foundation training, we must look specifically for an Irish system as to the gap needed to be filled here. I would definitely agree we need to look at extended training in a mentored environment, as stated, but we should not replicate exactly what has been done in the UK because it is not fit for purpose. My colleagues in Cork would feel the same.