Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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415. To ask the Minister for Health the plan that is in place to ensure that older people in State-run nursing homes get access to regular dental care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19093/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) enables medical card holders to access basic dental treatment free of charge from contracted dental surgeons in the private sector. In addition, the Public Dental Service of the HSE provides oral healthcare to vulnerable patients and patients with special needs.

Future provision of oral healthcare services will be informed by Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy, which was published in 2019. The Policy aims to reduce oral health inequalities by providing additional support to vulnerable groups to access oral healthcare and improve their oral health. My Department will be working with stakeholders to address these issues, implement the actions identified in the Policy and overcome the delays caused by the pandemic.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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416. To ask the Minister for Health if he will examine the situation in which residents in State-run nursing homes are spending long periods of time on antibiotics for oral and dental infection in lieu of receiving the necessary dental intervention this being of further note in the context of antibiotic resistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19094/22]

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.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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417. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has a dental welfare plan for State-run nursing homes given the close co-relation between dental health, heart health and new studies showing a connection to brain health in addition to basic chewing of food functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19095/22]

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.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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418. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dental procedures and checks, respectively that were carried out on residents of State-run nursing homes in each of the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19096/22]

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.