Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Additional funding of €10 million has been provided in the budget on top of the existing level of service provision of €56 million. The additional allocation should enable progress to be made in addressing issues concerning service provision for medical card patients in 2022.

The national oral health policy, Smile agus Sláinte, was published in 2019. The future approach to oral health service provision has been aligned with the goals and objectives of this policy and is in line with WHO resolutions and models of care. The Deputy is aware that the HSE public dental service provides emergency and routine care to children under the age of 16. It has always been the Department's intention to undertake a root and branch review of the contract. Covid interrupted the plans outlined in the new national oral health policy in 2019.

See this speech in context