Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

I thank Senators Scahill and Boyle for raising this important matter here today concerning the availability of dental hygienist training places in Ireland.

I acknowledge what Senator Scahill said. I represent the constituency of Sligo-Leitrim, which is sandwiched between Roscommon, where Senator Scahill is from, and Donegal, where Senator Boyle is from. I also represent south Donegal, of course. Senator Scahill said I would not let them down, so no pressure.

The Government is firmly committed to ensuring our healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates. My Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health, the Higher Education Authority and higher education institutes, play a central role in delivering the education and training infrastructure needed to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare workforce, including in critical areas such as oral healthcare. Ensuring adequate capacity to train future dental hygienists is part of our broader commitment to workforce planning that supports the health and well-being of the population. In the context of dental hygienist education and training capacity, I point out that dental hygienists are a vital part of Ireland's oral healthcare system. They play a key role in preventing and treating gum disease and promoting lifelong oral health.

Currently, as both Senators have alluded to, we have two higher education institutions - Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork - which offer programmes in dental hygiene. Between them, they produce approximately 25 graduates each year. This contrasts with about 100 dentistry graduates annually. My Department recognises that this represents a limited training pipeline at a time when the demand for oral healthcare, both clinical and preventative, is increasing nationally.While my Department does not set quotas for student places, we work closely with the Department of Health and the HEA to explore how capacity can be sustainably expanded in key health disciplines, including allied professions like dental hygiene.

It is important to note that in 2023, the HEA carried out a targeted capacity expansion exercise across priority healthcare areas. One key outcome was the establishment of new dentistry programmes, including a new bachelor of dental surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, commencing in 2025. This new programme will follow a community-based model of dental education and will provide at least 20 new dentistry places per annum for Irish or EEA students. That is significantly enhancing our national training capacity.

This expansion represents a landmark increase in student intake and clearly demonstrates my Department’s and this Government’s firm commitment to strengthening the oral healthcare workforce and supplying the graduates needed for a modern, accessible health system. I reaffirm my Department’s commitment to working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that any future expansion of dental hygienist education is grounded in evidence, responds to national needs and is delivered in a sustainable manner.