Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will take it back. As we have said, we require a sufficient number of appropriately trained oral healthcare professionals, including dentists, hygienists, clinical dental technicians, orthodontic therapists, dental nurses and other supporting oral healthcare workers. The Senator mentioned employment rules and flexibility. The HSE national oral health office works with the HSE national HR, recruitment reform and resourcing programme on identifying and resourcing challenges that may be experienced by the dental and oral health professions. As I have said, I think the Senator's ask is fair the way he has set it out regarding screening programmes. I will certainly bring it back. Given the Department of Health has commenced work on a workforce census across the oral healthcare sector, I think that is an area it could look at as well.