David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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10. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to expand public dentistry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19778/24]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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What are the Minister's plans to expand public dentistry services? I have spoken to the Minister previously about orthodontic care. I refer in particular to the hundreds of under-18s who are on the waiting lists for orthodontic treatment. In my area, I refer to the centre based in Louth County Hospital. Category four cases are being dealt with privately and huge amounts are being spent on those. We are glad to see people receiving treatment but category five cases, which are more critical, are not being treated and people are still waiting on a solution.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I have just had a back-and-forth discussion on this issue with Deputy Murnane O'Connor.

Good progress is being made. I know there are still parents who are anxiously waiting. I fully accept that and we must get to all of these children. It is important to note that in the lifetime of this Government, the number of children waiting has fallen by 44%. That is great to see. In the Dublin and mid-Leinster region, there has been a reduction of nearly 80% in the number of children waiting. There is good momentum.

This is being done through various streams. It is through public funding obviously and then, as the Deputy rightly identified, we have made significant money available over the past number of years for private care because we need to get these children seen.

We invest a little over €200 million every year in public oral healthcare services. An additional €17 million in one-off funding has been invested in recent years.

In the longer term, the national oral health policy sets out a complete transformation of oral healthcare services and the expansion of the care available for children and adults. I recognise that children are still waiting too long. We are on our way to bringing those waiting lists right down to meet the agreed all-party targets.

For children, the HSE is developing comprehensive, prevention-focused oral healthcare packages, starting with those aged from birth to two years of age. Those are being supported by nearly €5 million in additional funding.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

This will support children to attend a local dentist from birth, representing a significant expansion of care compared to the current model, which centres on three examination appointments starting at the age of seven.

For adult medical card holders, €10 million in additional funding supported the introduction in 2022 of additional preventative care to the dental treatment services scheme and a substantial increase in fees. This has increased both the number of patients seen and the treatments provided. The HSE is currently developing the clinical aspects of new packages of preventative care for DTSS patients as the first phase of reform of the medical card scheme.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We all welcome the moves relating to preventative care. As part of a perfect solution, we would eventually have a sufficient level of public dentistry to provide what is required. I am glad that some people are getting necessary dental care through the private sector. The numbers have obviously jumped. In 2021, in the Louth-Meath area, 77 patients were accepted at a cost of €200,995. By 2023, that figure had risen to 256 patients at a cost of €889,530. These are category four patients whereas the parents of category five children are regularly contacted and asked if the children have gone to the North. We need to find a fix for this. We are told that the HSE is carrying out an assessment of feasibility for a similar initiative but we need to see some detail about it because if some of these cases are left, the children will end up in detrimental circumstances.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I fully take on board what the Deputy said. It is very worrying for these children and their parents. Good progress is being made. We have to go further. I am happy to ask my Department to engage with the HSE and revert to the Deputy along with Deputy Cullinane, who tabled the question, with a note relating to category five and give them more detail for Louth and Meath, the counties referred to by Deputy Ó Murchú.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I would appreciate that. The parents are very worried and probably a bit perturbed when they are contacted the HSE, not with a date but to ask whether they have already taken action by going to the North. As much as we want public provision, we need to find a solution for these patients similar to category four patients. I ask for that note as soon as possible. It would really make a difference.

I was contacted by a parent who is particularly worried. The child will be 17 this Christmas and has been waiting a number of years for this treatment and the parent is afraid the child will age out. Those are the circumstances we need to deal with. Another case involves a 37-year-old woman with a diagnosis of autism. She needs particular treatment relating to an abscess in her teeth and jaw. She thought she had found a solution through the cross-Border initiative in April but she does not have it at this point. I will give the details to the Minister. This is someone in severe pain. We have made representations to the HSE.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy referred to two cases. If he send me the details, I will ask the HSE to take a look and revert to him directly.