Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have listened to Senator Murphy and his colleagues across the Chamber, and I assure him that the Minister appreciates the difficulties experienced by people accessing healthcare and is providing solutions.

As mentioned, additional funding has been provided to resolve current problems with access to the dental treatment services scheme. The HSE has also been taking action to resolve the problems in children's dental services. However, the Minister and the Government recognise that the current model of provision of oral healthcare is in need of fundamental reform. Smile agus Sláinte, the national oral health policy, provides the guiding principles aligned with Sláintecare to transform the current oral healthcare service over the next eight years. It will support provision of all levels of care by appropriate healthcare professional and in the most suitable settings. It will also support patient choice and access, and will replace the current service, which is based on the dental health action plan 1994, which was informed by data from the 1980s.