Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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461. To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists taking part in the dental treatment services scheme; the number who have discontinued in each of the past three years; his plans to increase participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27055/24]

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. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, extractions, and a scale and polish. More complex care, such as dentures, additional fillings and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients, are available subject to the approval of the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon.

To support practitioners to provide care under the Scheme, I approved a range of measures that were put in place on 1 May 2022 to introduce and reintroduce elements of preventative care and increase the fees paid to dental contractors for most treatment items by 40-60%. These measures have improved access to care - in 2023, 154,864 additional treatments were provided under the DTSS, with over 26,700 extra patients treated when compared with 2022.

In the longer term, the Government is committed to reforming dental services, including the DTSS, through the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy (NOHP), Smile agus Sláinte. An implementation plan for the 2024-2026 phase of rollout is being drafted by my Department and the HSE, for consultation and subsequent publication in the third quarter of this year. The HSE is committed to the design and development of packages of expanded preventative care, and will consult with the profession this year on this draft design, as the first phase of reform of the DTSS.

As the number of dentists taking part in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme and the number who have discontinued in each of the past three years are service matters, these have been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.