Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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927. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full annual cost of providing free dental care to all children under 6 years of age under the Smile agus Sláinte policy proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14336/22]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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928. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full annual cost of providing free dental care to all children under 12 years of age under the Smile agus Sláinte policy proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14337/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 927 and 928 together.

The indicative estimate of the full year cost of providing free dental care, by way of oral healthcare packages delivered by contracted oral health professionals, as outlined in the National Oral Health Policy Smile agus Sláinte (2019), to children aged 0 to 16 years is approximately €33-€34 million. The estimated annual cost of care for children aged 0 to their 6^thBirthday is approximately €11.8m.