James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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259. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter in relation to unregistered dentists (details supplied) [40824/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The practice of dentistry is underpinned by a range of legislation, of which the Dentists Act 1985 is only one. Currently five separate state and regulatory agencies (Health Information and Quality Authority, Health Service Executive, Health and Safety Authority, Environmental Protection Agency and Local Authorities) have a regulatory interest and oversight of dental practices, primarily for the protection of the public.

While I am aware that the Dentists Act 1985 needs to be updated to align with other healthcare profession regulatory legislation, the Act was amended by the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020, which was signed into law in October 2020.

In the context of the wider need to update dental legislation, the Department of Health is committed to reviewing the Dentists Act 1985. The protection of the public and ensuring high oral healthcare standards will continue to be the central focus of this work. The review and updating of the legislation also, necessarily, is directly related to the wider implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, which envisages a fundamental reform of oral health services. As such, any new legislation will also be informed by this work.

Additional resources have been allocated to commence this work to further strengthen the regulation of dentists in Ireland. The Department is currently undertaking preparatory scoping and planning work to support the review. As part of this preparatory scoping work, the Department is considering the necessary timelines required to deliver a robust, evidence based modern regulatory framework with due consideration to the policy alignment referenced above.

The Department meets with the Dental Council on a regular basis in order to discuss strategic and governance issues including the regulatory framework, the operation of the regulatory system and legislative reform. The Department will be engaging closely with the Dental Council as part of our work to reform The Dentists Act.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.

The practice of dentistry is underpinned by a range of legislation, of which the Dentists Act 1985 is only one. Currently five separate state and regulatory agencies (Health Information and Quality Authority, Health Service Executive, Health and Safety Authority, Environmental Protection Agency and Local Authorities) have a regulatory interest and oversight of dental practices, primarily for the protection of the public.

While I am aware that the Dentists Act 1985 needs to be updated to align with other healthcare profession regulatory legislation, the Act was amended by the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020, which was signed into law in October 2020.

In the context of the wider need to update dental legislation, the Department of Health is committed to reviewing the Dentists Act 1985. The protection of the public and ensuring high oral healthcare standards will continue to be the central focus of this work. The review and updating of the legislation also, necessarily, is directly related to the wider implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, which envisages a fundamental reform of oral health services. As such, any new legislation will also be informed by this work. Additional resources have been allocated to commence this work to further strengthen the regulation of dentists in Ireland. The Department is currently undertaking preparatory scoping and planning work to support the review. As part of this preparatory scoping work, the Department is considering all of the necessary inputs required to deliver a robust, evidence based modern regulatory framework with due consideration to the policy alignment referenced above.

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.

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.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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While I am aware that the Dentists Act 1985 needs to be updated to align with other healthcare profession regulatory legislation, the Act was amended by the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020, which was signed into law in October 2020.

In the context of the wider need to update dental legislation, the Department of Health is committed to reviewing the Dentists Act 1985. The protection of the public and ensuring high oral healthcare standards will continue to be the central focus of this work. The review and updating of the legislation also, necessarily, is directly related to the wider implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, which envisages a fundamental reform of oral health services. As such, any new legislation will also be informed by this work. Additional resources have been allocated to commence this work to further strengthen the regulation of dentists in Ireland. The Department is currently undertaking preparatory scoping and planning work to support the review. As part of this preparatory scoping work, the Department is considering the necessary timelines required to deliver a robust, evidence based modern regulatory framework with due consideration to the policy alignment referenced above.

The Department has met with the Irish Dental Association (IDA) in order to discuss a wide range of issues including legislative reform. The Department will be engaging closely with the lDA as part of our work to reform The Dentists Act.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. This has had a positive effect: from January to July this year, 131,626 additional treatments have been provided under the Scheme, with over 24,500 extra unique patients treated when compared with the same period last year.

The Government is committed to fundamentally reforming dental services, including the DTSS, through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte. The Department is working closely with the HSE to ensure the establishment of focused structures to drive implementation of the Policy. These implementation structures will include clinical leadership and reform leadership posts in the HSE. These implementation structures will help to substantively reform the provision of public oral healthcare services to all ages, in line with the Policy. This will include work on planning new services for medical card holders.

While it will take a number of years to bring reform to complete fruition, there will be an early emphasis in implementation on addressing the current issues, including the reform of the provision of services for medical card holders.

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.

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.