Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Fitzpatrick. I am aware there is an issue with the shortage of dentists, especially those providing community dentistry across our country and the Deputy has referenced Louth and east Meath as an example. To address that we have a lot of plans ongoing on increasing the supply of qualified healthcare graduates in dentistry and the respective therapy disciplines, so we have increased the pipeline of workers who can provide that service. That is something that has been ongoing between both the Department of further and higher education and the Department of Health so we can build capacity for the future. There have not been sufficient dental graduate to meet the level of demand, especially in community dental services. That is why the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, with the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, is advancing plans to increase the wider capacity through strengthened numbers when it comes to new hire education healthcare places. That will make a difference for the future.

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