Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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598. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of dental practitioners currently providing dental care to persons holding a medical card under the dental treatment services scheme in CHO Dublin north city and county in tabular form. [45947/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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599. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dental practitioners contracted to provide dental care to persons holding a medical card under the dental treatment service scheme in CHO Dublin north city and county in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [45948/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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600. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting access to the dental treatment services scheme in CHO Dublin north city and county; the number of these persons that have been waiting for six, 12 and 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45949/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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601. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dental practitioners that have withdrawn from the dental treatment services scheme in CHO Dublin north city and county in each of the years 2019 and 2020 and to date in 2021. [45950/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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602. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out of the national oral health policy and the proposed review of the dental treatment services scheme contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45951/21]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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603. To ask the Minister for Health the engagement that has taken place with dental practitioners and their representatives relating to the provision of services under the dental treatment services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45952/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together.

The National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte (2019), provides a framework to transform oral health services and will broaden the care provided to the public from birth to old age. Progress is being made on the priority actions identified in the Policy in the areas within my Department's remit, including liaising with other agencies such as the Dental Council.

The roll-out of the Policy has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the proposed review of the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) contract has been deferred. I am committed to the sustainability of the DTSS which provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over and which will need to be aligned with the new policy. Officials in my Department and from the HSE are currently engaging with the Irish Dental Association on matters relating to the provision of services under the DTSS.