Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)

Gabhaim buíochas le Deputy Stanley chun an motion seo a chur thuas. This motion reflects a shared understanding. The Minister of State has heard multiple Members across this House speak about public dental services, in particular for children, that are under significant pressures. Young parents are in urgent need of our support.

I urge the Minister of State not to oppose the motion. When I was knocking on doors across my constituency, one of the things I heard most often during the election campaign in areas like Clontarf, Raheny, Donaghmede, Clongriffin and Darndale was that many people across Dublin Bay North were under stress due to their children not being seen as part of the school dental screening programme. In some cases, children are in fourth or fifth class or even in secondary school before they have a public dental check up. These are not just isolated cases. I know the Minister of State is aware that it is a national problem.

In 2023, more than 208,000 children were eligible for school dental screenings, yet fewer than half that number were seen. This means that more than 100,000 children were not assessed. This represents a 31% drop in screening since 2019. Even as the population of children has continued to rise, the Irish Dental Association has made it clear that this is not sustainable and the gap is growing.

As the Minister of State is well aware, staffing is at the core of this problem. I welcome the contributions of other Members. We have heard there are 241 full-time equivalent public dentists working in the system, but that is simply not enough to meet the need. We all know the solution, which requires more recruitment and training. That is the case across the board with most of the issues relating to public services that we raise in this Chamber. We must increase the number of dental training places.

I welcome the opening last week of the RCSI's purpose-built education centre in Sandyford and the centre under construction at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. However, these alone will not solve the crisis. We must create a structured and supportive pathway for dental graduates entering public services. I call for the creation of a national membership scheme for new dental graduates. This would pair new dentists with experienced HSE clinicians. I have friends who are dentists and I spoke to them before today's debate. They said it would be a good idea. They also said it would give them a stronger pipeline into the public system. We cannot build dental services without making public dentistry a supported and attractive career path. A lot of my friends who studied dentistry have emigrated. That is a truth that we must consider.

For children who require more complex care, including those needing general anaesthetic, the current waiting time is up to two years. That is the real issue we have on the ground. This is not just an access issue; it is due to a pure neglect of dental services, which places enormous pressure on families.

I wish to briefly mention the dental treatment services scheme. We all know it was designed to ensure access for adults with medical cards, but no dentists are participating in it in many counties. That leaves vulnerable people without any dental care at all. A person's economic status should not determine whether he or she can receive dental care. The scheme must be reviewed, fees must be modernised and dentists must be brought back into the system.

I appreciate that progress is being made and that planning is under way. I thank the Minister of State and other Ministers for their engagement to date when I have spoken to them about struggling constituents who have reached out to me. The reality is that dental care is not a luxury. It is essential to a child's health, development and well-being. Every child deserves to thrive in every aspect of life. Every child should smile without pain and grow up with dignity and proper care. I believe we have the right vision but we need it to be delivered. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's contribution. Words are not enough.

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