Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I thank Deputy Murnane O'Connor for the opportunity to address the issue of the expansion of dental care for patients and increased fees for dental contractors. The dental treatment service scheme, DTSS, provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination covering preventative advice, two fillings, emergency extractions and a scale and polish. More complex care such as dentures and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients are available subject to HSE approval.

In May 2022, the Minister for Health approved measures providing for increased preventative care and increasing the fees paid to dentists for most treatment items by 40% to 60%. Fees paid to dentists for DTSS care are aligned with other European countries which provide comparable public dental care. The number of patients and treatments has been increasing since the measures were introduced. Comparing the claims made by DTSS contractors nationally from January to October 2023, 142,450 additional treatments have been provided under the scheme, with more than 25,600 extra unique patients treated compared with the same period last year.

However, the Minister is aware that medical card holders in some areas continue to have difficulty accessing care. Where access to a dentist is difficult, the local HSE service will make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances, the HSE assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by directly contacting private contractors or arranging treatment to be provided by HSE-employed dentists. Additional funding was made available to HSE this year to provide this care when required.

For children, the HSE public dental service provides screening and necessary treatment at ages corresponding to second class, sixth class, and, subject to capacity, fourth class. Emergency care is also provided for children up to 16 years of age and for those with complex and additional needs. The HSE is continuing to restore dental screening and treatment to children up to 16 years of age by prioritising clinical treatment and patient groups and reallocating clinical resources according to greatest need.

In the longer term, the Minister for Health recognises that oral healthcare for all ages needs to be modernised in line with best international evidence and practice, as set out in the national oral health policy, Smile agus Sláinte. The work is already under way for children aged from birth to seven years using the €4.75 million funding awarded in budget 2023. The modernised services will be person-centred, prevention-focused and available locally in line with the vision set out under Sláintecare.

The Minister has supported the HSE to develop clinical leadership and to reform leadership roles to progress implementation of the policy this year. The HSE recently appointed a strategic reform lead to drive policy implementation across the organisation. This will enable the HSE to move forward in 2024 with developing new services for both adults and children in line with the policy.

See this speech in context