Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Irish Dental Association is in crisis. Many dozens of dentists have left the scheme because the contract has not been updated for years. Families are struggling. In many counties they cannot get dentists under the scheme. They must travel to different counties, maybe 100 miles away, to get an appointment. Will the Government do something for the dentists who are there? I salute them for the hard work they do and the great care they take of young and old. We will have a huge crisis. If young people are neglected there will be huge costs to the State in future. Dentists need support. They need a modern contract that reflects what they do and the service and facilities that they provide. That is not being reflected at all and they are being ignored. They are leaving. Unfortunately, they are voting with their feet and going into private practice or going abroad. The public who depend on medical cards are left abandoned and cannot get dental treatment. Action needs to be taken on this.

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