Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding a statutory register for dental assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2422/11]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The Dental Council is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of dentists. Under Section 53 of the Dentists Act, 1985, the Council may establish schemes for the recognition of grades of auxiliary dental workers with the consent of the Minister for Health and Children. Schemes have been established for Dental Nurses, Dental Hygienists, Clinical Dental Technicians and Orthodontic Therapists.

The Council is responsible for maintaining the registers of auxiliary dental workers covered by the Schemes and registration is obligatory except for those Dental Nurses whose duties do not include the taking of radiographs. The introduction of obligatory registration for all auxiliary dental workers will be considered in the context of the proposed review of the Dentists Act 1985.