Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Not in Laois. There is a real problem with public dental health in counties Laois and Offaly.

County Laois is on the floor. I do not say that to be parochial. I have to reflect what constituents tell me. The information I pick up from schools and parents is that it is not happening. Regarding the dental treatment service scheme, DTSS, scheme, I understand that there is a challenge. The HSE sent me a reply to a parliamentary question and other replies which show the efforts the HSE is making to recruit dentists. I also know that some people coming out of dental training do not want to run a business, they want a job, particularly women. It is good that more women are going into the profession and I hope it continues to increase. For obvious reasons, a lot of younger people, men as well, want to be employed. There is some mismatch in terms of training people into that service and encouraging them but showing them that there is a career path in it. Are they being offered short-term contracts? Is that the problem?