Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The issue here is that dentists have withdrawn from the scheme. I gather from the Minister of State's reply, for which I thank her, that an engagement was held in June. That is almost six months ago. This is a crisis. What has happened during those six months? Extra funding has been made available in the budget. What is the commitment? I fear the words "early in the new year". There are a number of weeks left in 2021. The urgency of this matter does not merit waiting until the new year or four, five or six weeks for serious engagement with the Irish Dental Association to take place. During the meetings held in June, the Department and HSE were obviously made aware of the issues on the dental side that were making the scheme unworkable. The dentists are only withdrawing because the scheme is unworkable. What are the issues that caused them to withdraw from it?

I implore the Minister of State to ask the Minister and the HSE to arrange immediate discussions with the Irish Dental Association, not in a number of weeks' time but this week and next, to try to find a solution for this. Deputies are being contacted by many people in acute pain who have been looking for help and support to get dental treatment. That is not acceptable in this day and age.

I ask the Minister of State to impress on the Minister the need to immediately start talks with the Irish Dental Association and to put a resolution in place that will bring dentists back into the scheme and ensure people with medical cards can access dental treatment. This is a matter of extreme urgency.

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