Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the challenges facing the dental sector regarding the retention of dentists in Ireland following the completion of their degrees; the steps he is taking at a University level to reduce this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36731/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The matter of health workforce planning and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of qualified healthcare workers within Ireland, is a major priority for my Department. The Programme for Government commits the Department of Health to working with the education sectors, regulators, and professional bodies to improve the availability of health professionals and reform their training to support integrated care across the entire health service.

The National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte recognises the need for a suitably skilled workforce to provide appropriate oral healthcare across all settings. This workforce will include oral healthcare professionals providing the highest level of care in advanced oral healthcare centres or in secondary/tertiary care centres, as well as oral healthcare professionals providing oral healthcare advice and preventive care directly to the public in primary oral healthcare settings.

The Government is committed to the reform of oral healthcare 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.

My Department and I are continuing to engage with the Department of Health and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can continue to deliver graduates with the skills necessary to support our healthcare system and support the strategic workforce planning by the health sector, including dentistry professionals.