Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Health his plans regarding the independence of dental hygienists; his plans to introduce a new Bill to amend or replace the Dentists Act 1985; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8000/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Work is continuing in relation to the development of new legislation to replace the Dentist Act 1985. The regulation and role of dental hygienists is being examined in the context of this new legislation.

A Regulatory Impact Analysis is currently underway, and the drafting of the Scheme of Bill, which is the next step in the process to develop the new legislation, has commenced, but it is at an early stage. It is therefore too early to give an indication as to when the Bill will be published and debated. Department officials are currently committed to drafting a priority Regulated Health Professions (Amendment) Bill, the primary purpose of which is to amend all health professional regulatory Acts as a consequence of the transposition of the Modernised Professional Qualifications Directive (2013/55/EU), and to address a number of other issues.

While the development of new dental legislation is a priority for me, work on the preparation of the Dental Bill will be progressed in line with competing legislative priorities.