Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost in the first year and a full year to provide free dental care for all children under six years of age; the estimated cost for free dental care for all children up to 16 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15944/19]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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226. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost in the first year and a full year to provide free dental care for older persons and those living in residential facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15945/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together.

On 3 April 2019, I published  Smile agus Sláinte, the new National Oral Health together with my colleague Regina Doherty TD the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Research carried out by the ESRI, as part of the ESRI Research Programme in Healthcare Reform funded by the Department of Health, examined the potential cost implications of proposed changes to oral healthcare provision, and informed the new Policy. 

The indicative estimate of the cost of providing the oral healthcare packages outlined in the Policy to children aged under 16 is approximately €33-€34 million, of which €10-12 million pertains to children aged under 6. This indicative estimate is  based on current fees payable by the HSE under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) and an estimated take-up rate based on previous research. The final cost will be subject to further discussion with dentists.

Medical card holders currently receive dental services under the DTSS.  The indicative cost for provision of  the new packages of care for all adults ranges from €23-48 million.  Smile agus Sláinte will prioritise vulnerable adults, including those in residential care, to access dental care. The cost of providing services for those in residential care will be informed by the planned assessment of oral healthcare need for high support care among that group of vulnerable adults. This assessment of need is one of the priority actions of the Policy.

In 2020 the introduction of packages of care for children under 6 years of age will be prioritised. In addition, there will be a focus on enabling vulnerable adults to access their local dentist as a first point of contact and ensuring that they are referred to the HSE community oral healthcare service or other appropriate service, if required.