Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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734. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the exodus of dentists from the dental treatment services scheme; his plans to deal with the long waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36363/20]

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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848. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists who have dropped out of the dental treatment services scheme during 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37022/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 734 and 848 together.

The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by over 1,400 independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. I understand that since the beginning of March, 165 dentists have withdrawn from the DTSS and that 58 new applications are being processed. This is within the normal range of fluctuations of dentists participating in the Scheme in recent years.

The interruption to services caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic has meant that some patients had to wait longer than usual for appointments. However, there are positive signs of the profession having adapted to provide oral health care and of patients availing of care in recent months. The resumption in activity is evidenced by the increasing claims by dentists during the year; in June, claims were 27% of the level for the previous year; the corresponding figure for October was 93%.

My Department has been engaging with dentists throughout the pandemic and is preparing for further engagement on any additional measures to support the oral health of the public during these difficult times.