Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his response. We have to remember that reform of the Dentists Act 1985 has been promised for the last decade. There are difficulties at play. From speaking with the dentists, there is a lot of frustration which would indicate that there has not been meaningful dialogue with the Department. That concerns me because these issues should have been ironed out long ago and the matter should have been resolved to make sure that people have access to dental treatment. The core issue is that people do not have enough access and that there have been 33 resignations in Laois-Offaly alone. I stress that there needs to be some commitment from the Department to the appointment of an independent chair and confirmation of a framework for negotiations equivalent to that agreed with the Irish Medical Organisation seven years ago. Will the Taoiseach request that the Minister for Health publish the report commissioned by the HSE on orthodontic care and treatment, as an important first step in debating how best to tackle these persistent difficulties that have led to having so few dentists and to 33 resignations in Laois-Offaly?

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