Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I concur with Deputy Stanton. This is a really important issue that has been raised previously. As the Deputy stated, it is an issue not just for those in the south of the country but also for everyone. There has been a 25% increase in the number of patients in the public system, and we are breaking at the seams in respect of the number of dentists there are versus the number we need. Between 24 and 26 students can go through the CAO process in that regard at the moment, but we clearly need more students to come on stream. This plan had been in place and should remain in place. It is welcome that the Minister will go to Cork on Friday and speak to people there. I hope this can be progressed and that, when he is in Cork on Friday, he will meet students. Students in UCC, UCD and Trinity have come out strongly in respect of Palestine. There have been encampments at the universities, and I hope the Minister will be willing to meet students in that context too.

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