Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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368. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the work to draft new legislation which would replace the Dentists Act 1985; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10829/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department is developing new legislation to replace the Dentists Act 1985.  While other competing legislative priorities have limited the amount of time officials have been able to spend working on the dental Bill, drafting of the Scheme of the Bill has begun.

The Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill, which is a large and complex Bill containing 169 sections, was published in February.  The primary purpose of this Bill is to amend all health profession regulatory Acts, including the Dentists Act, as a consequence of the transposition of the Modernised Professional Qualifications Directive (2013/55/EU), and to address a number of other issues.

It is expected that work on the dental Bill will gain momentum once the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill has completed its passage through both Houses of the Oireachtas, and the Bill has been enacted.