Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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223. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the national oral health policy; and his plans for its implementation. [24757/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy was published in April 2019 and is Government policy. It provides a framework to transform oral health services and will facilitate better oral healthcare for everyone.

Forty-one actions were identified within the Policy, which will be delivered over the next six to seven years. Nine priorities were identified for the first three years following publication of the Policy. Despite the current public health emergency, work to prepare for implementation is being undertaken my Department and progress is being made on the Priority Actions identified in the Policy in the areas within the Department's remit.

I look forward to progress being made by the HSE on the priority actions of the National Oral Health Policy for which it has responsibility but has been delayed due to the current Covid-19 pandemic. My Department has also been liaising with other agencies such as the Dental Council which have not been as adversely impacted by the pandemic.