Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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333. To ask the Minister for Health the dentistry supports available through the HSE to children with additional needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14399/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE Public Dental Service provides oral healthcare for children through a targeted programme which includes screening and necessary treatment for children at key stages of development. This is, children aged 6 to 8, 11 to 16 and, subject to capacity, 9 to 11. Emergency care is also provided for children up to 16 years of age.

In addition, the Public Dental Service provides care to children and adults with additional needs. People with additional needs requiring special care dentistry are those with a condition, disability or activity restriction that directly or indirectly affects their oral health and is impacted by the personal and/or the environmental context of the individual. Children who have additional needs may be identified as they progress through the targeted programme which is available to all children. Children may also be referred into the HSE by a General Dental Practitioner or General Medical Practitioner. A parent or caregiver may also make direct contact with the HSE.

Special Care patients are given an oral health examination and have their treatment provided possibly using additional supports where necessary. They are assigned a risk category and are recalled at risk appropriate intervals following instruction on oral care and oral health promotion advice.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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334. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting for their initial dentistry appointment in the Dublin Fingal constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14400/23]

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.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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335. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with medical cards who availed of dentistry appointments in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14401/23]

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.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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336. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children in the Dublin Fingal constituency who hold a current medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14402/23]

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.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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337. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists in the Dublin Fingal constituency who are in agreement with the HSE to treat medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14403/23]

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.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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338. To ask the Minister for Health the reason good behaviour is a requirement for children to access dental treatment in the Dublin Dental University Hospital to avail of treatment by undergraduate dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14404/23]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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339. To ask the Minister for Health the reason paediatric dentistry referrals are not being accepted by the Dublin Dental University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14405/23]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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340. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects the Dublin Dental University Hospital to reopen paediatric services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14406/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 to 340, inclusive, together.

The Dublin Dental University Hospital (DDUH) is primarily an educational institution and accepts patients who are suitable to have dental care provided by undergraduate (primary care) and postgraduate students (secondary care) under direct supervision. Patients are accepted to match the educational needs of the Hospital. Therefore, while referrals have not been suspended, the volume of referrals accepted does vary throughout the year according to the educational calendar.

The DDUH does not provide oral healthcare services to the wider community. Patients for primary care are frequently self-referred and do not require a referral from their dental practitioner. When the DDUH receives a self-referral for primary care, the patient is assessed to determine if they are suitable for treatment provision in a teaching setting. The nature of the teaching environment in the DDUH means that clinics are held in an open plan setting containing multiple chairs, at each of which a dental student is providing care, under direct supervision, to a patient. Therefore, all patients must be able to sit in a chair and be able to participate in their treatment.

The DDUH does accept a very limited number referrals from general dental practitioners and the HSE throughout the country for paediatric patients who may require secondary and tertiary care. However, this does not include the provision of care under general anaesthetic or specialist led services. Patients for secondary and tertiary care must be referred by their own general dental practitioners.

Once a care plan is agreed this will be provided by the students and children are expected to attend appointments offered and to comply with home care maintenance. When the patient’s treatment plan is complete, the patient is discharged from DDUH services back to their own community dentist or general dental practitioner.