Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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193. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of dentists currently operating under the dental treatment services scheme; the number of dentists who operated under the scheme in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25060/22]

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.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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194. To ask the Minister for Health if he will revise the rules in relation to access to dental treatment for medical card holders in order that they can have dental cleaning carried out on an annual basis. [25065/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Following consultation with the Irish Dental Association, I gave approval on the 13^thof April, for the implementation of new measures to provide for both expanded dental health care for medical card holders including the re-introduction of the Scale & Polish item and increased fees for dental contractors in the hope that more dentists will see more medical card patients.

The changes to the Scheme came into effect from the beginning of May 2022.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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195. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the crisis in retaining dental graduates in Ireland; the discussions that his Department has had with an organisation (details supplied) in this regard; the specific plans that his Department has in place to address the issue of retention of dental graduates in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25066/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to an integrated health and social care workforce planning approach, which will be progressed in the context of strong engagement with key stakeholders across government including the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Higher Education Authority, the HSE, and other government departments to ensure that sufficient workers are being trained in the right disciplines to meet population needs and to agree new ways of training multidisciplinary teams.

I am aware of the need of a suitably skilled workforce to provide appropriate oral healthcare across all settings. I recognise the need for specific workforce planning for oral health.

My Department has had recent engagements with the Irish Dental Association in relation to the Dental Treatment Services Scheme. The Government is committed to the reform of dental services to align with the National Oral Health Policy Smile agus Sláinte, including the development of a dental workforce plan. This will require continued engagement with all dental stakeholders.