Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have been informed that schoolchildren within my constituency of Offaly, who should be seen by the HSE dental service three times before the age of 12, are actually only seeing a dentist for the first time when they are well into secondary school. These concerns were raised with me by the Irish Dental Association at an emergency meeting in Portlaoise three years ago. I was shocked to hear, however, how far the services have deteriorated since that time. We now know that children in Offaly are not receiving the first of their three dental checks until they are in transition year. There needs to be an immediate commencement of discussions with the Irish Dental Association to address the crisis in the recruitment and retention of dentists. In addition to this, an urgent ministerial direction to the Department of Health must be issued to commence independently chaired discussions with the Irish Dental Association on a new scheme to replace the medical card scheme. We cannot continue with this scenario. We need action on this matter.

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