Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)

I move:

That Seanad Éireann:

acknowledges: - the publication in 2019 of Smile agus Sláinte - National Oral Health Policy;

- that the Dental Treatment Services Scheme provides access to dental treatment for adult medical card holders;

- that taxpayers may be able to claim tax relief on specialist dental treatment;

- that under the Treatment Benefit Scheme taxpayers may qualify for dental benefit;

- that the Dentists Act 1985 establishes the Dental Council as the regulator of the dental profession in Ireland; and notes: - that the national screening programme for children commits to 3 dental appointments before the age of 12 in second, fourth and sixth classes;

- the establishment of new dentistry programmes, including a new Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, commencing in 2025;

- that the National Oral Health Policy contains a range of strategic workforce planning actions to increase national workforce capacity;

- the particular challenges for patients of dental and orthodontist practices where the practitioner dies, leaves the country suddenly or is suspended;

- the issues raised by the Dental Council in its 2021 submission to the Department of Health, titled – Submission regarding Legislative Change in Dental Regulation;

- that smoking increases the risk of gum disease, tooth loss and oral cancer; and calls on the Government to: - update the Dentists Act 1985;

- increase the number of training places in dentistry and dental hygiene in Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork;

- implement the Smile agus Sláinte - National Oral Health Policy;

- expand orthodontic treatment for children and implement an enhanced dental package for children under the National Oral Health Policy;

- introduce a mobile dentistry unit for nursing home residents and those with mobility issues;

- consider, in the interim, the hiring of recently retired dentists for school check-ups and screenings, to cover schools where regular scheduled checks are not happening; and

- work with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the Dental Council and the Department of Finance on finding a resolution regarding customers who are left in limbo financially, where an insured dental or orthodontist practice closes suddenly.

I compliment my colleague, Senator Kyne, and the Fine Gael group on putting together this motion. There are two or three key things I wish to raise with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, whom I welcome to the Chamber. A number of children did not receive their treatment last year, with some being on waiting lists for two or more years. It is unacceptable. Dentists actually have to choose which children they believe are the worst or have issues. The number of places available is another issue. We need to increase and expand the number of places on offer in the higher education institutes. While some 60 dentists come out of UCC, it is not enough. There are approximately 45 dentists per 100,000 head of population. It is time to expand those services and for the Government to invest in oral health.

I will hand over to my colleague, Senator Nelson Murray.