Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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714. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, due to underfunding across north County Dublin, dentists are not able to treat medical card holders; his plans to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6320/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that a significant number of dentists chose to leave the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) that provides care for medical card patients during the pandemic, which has led to difficulties for medical card patients in accessing dental care in some parts of the country. I have been assured that the HSE Public Dental Service is seeking to provide emergency cover for any medical card patients who are experiencing problems accessing care.

Officials from my Department and from the HSE have held two rounds of discussions with the Irish Dental Association, the most recent on 17 December last when my Department and the HSE presented proposals to invest additional resources in the DTSS, including €10m provided in the Budget, on top of the 2022 Estimate allocation of €56 million. The Department is anxious to move the process on, in the interests of patients, and is hoping to meet the IDA again in the next couple of weeks to progress matters.