Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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330. To ask the Minister for Health when his Department intends to implement real reform to the dental treatment services scheme; when the scheme will be replaced with a fit for purpose scheme that reflects modern dental practices and standards; when he will take steps in relation to the recruitment of public dentists and engage in cross-Departmental actions to increase the number of dental care graduates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26417/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The recent substantial investments in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, including €10m additional funding from Budget 2022, are designed to secure services for medical card holders ahead of a more substantive reform of dental services to align with the National Oral Health Policy.

Work on this longer-term project has already commenced and it is estimated that it will take 1-2 years to complete. The Policy will also include the development of a dental workforce plan.

My Department is committed to an integrated health and social care workforce planning approach. This will include strong engagement with key stakeholders 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.