Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of fully qualified and competent Ukrainian dentists who are unable to practice in Ireland due to Quality and Qualifications Ireland not recognising their qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61131/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Council of Ireland is the regulator for the dental profession in Ireland. The Council is responsible for establishing, maintaining and publishing a Register of Dentists and a Register of Dental Specialists and to provide for the registration and the retention of dentists names in these registers.

I welcome the news that some Ukrainian dentists who are currently living in Ireland wish to practise here. Officials in my Department are in regular contact with the Dental Council on this matter and the Dental Council have advised that it is doing everything it can to expedite the registration of these dentists.

The Dental Council have advised that a new registration process has opened specifically for those who have obtained refugee and temporary protection status in Ireland. This includes individuals granted temporary protection due to the conflict in Ukraine.

This process includes a new mentorship program that allows oral healthcare professionals practise under a period of adaptation where deemed necessary by the Dental Council to gain all the requirements to obtain full registration, such as English language proficiency. 

The Dental Council began to issue versioned guidance to mentors and those undertaking a period of adaptation. This allowed applications to be processed more efficiently. The first version was issued on 11 September and the second on the 16 November 2022.

The Dental Council is available to advise any Ukrainian dentist who is seeking to be registered to practice in Ireland.