Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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2095.To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists working in the school dental scheme in Laois and Offaly; the progress being made to improve the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31564/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE Public Dental Service provides oral healthcare services for all children aged under 16 years. The current service model for children focuses on three appointments for examination, and follow up treatment if required, at sixth class, second class and, subject to resources, fourth class. Fissure sealants and a referral for orthodontics assessment, if deemed necessary by the HSE dentist, are provided at the sixth-class appointment. Emergency care is provided for children of all ages up to 16 and for those with complex and additional needs.

I acknowledge that the current system, which was developed in the 1990s in response to the identified oral healthcare needs at that time, needs to be modernised and aligned with current needs. I am committed to substantive reform of oral healthcare services for children, as set out in the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte.

The HSE is currently developing new prevention-focused oral healthcare packages, starting with 0-2 years olds, supported by an additional €4.75m in funding, as the first step in reform of services for children. Through this new approach, children will be supported to attend a local (private) general dental practitioner of their family's choosing from birth, reflecting how services are provided in general medical practice. Therefore, parents will be able to choose where and when to bring their child to access crucial oral healthcare. The Department will continue to engage with the HSE to ensure realisation of this significant expansion of oral healthcare services for children.

I have asked the HSE to forward the requested data on the number of dentists working in the school dental scheme in Laois and Offaly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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2096.To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists now providing services under the dental treatment services scheme; the progress being made to improve the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31565/24]

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.

I have asked the HSE to forward the requested data on the number of dentists working under the DTSS scheme the Deputy as soon as possible.