Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Our public dental services are at crisis point in County Mayo. We have more than 55,000 medical card holders served by only ten dentists. That is a staggering average of more than 5,500 patients per dentist. The dentists are overwhelmed and are no longer accepting new patients. Medical card holders are suffering. They are stuck on long waiting lists or contemplating seeking treatment abroad. In February, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, promised a review of a modern, streamlined dental treatment service scheme, DTSS. Where is that review? How many dentists have returned to the scheme or signed up for it? What is the plan to improve access to the dental service for medical card holders? This is a serious concern for the people who contact us on a daily basis who need access to dental services. We need answers. We need action and we need it now.

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