Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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751. To ask the Minister for Health to address issues in regard to the national oral health policy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15312/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Oral Healthcare Service aims to provide an oral examination and necessary treatment for children at ages approximating to second and sixth class and, in some cases, fourth class. Emergency care is provided for children of all ages up to 16. However, the HSE does not provide the child oral health examination programme to children once they turn 16.

The HSE’s child oral health examination programme has been impacted by capacity challenges in recent years and I acknowledge that we need to do more to support access to this current service while reform proceeds through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy (NOHP). In Budget 2025, an additional €2m in funding, increasing to €4m in 2026, was provided to continue implementation of the NOHP and improve access to existing community services in our HSE dental and orthodontic clinics. This investment is providing an additional 15 HSE dental and orthodontic staff nationally to deliver oral healthcare in our community, including supporting children to access the current primary school programme of routine check-ups.

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 additional fillings, dentures, 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. Services are not undertaken on the basis of a waiting list as they are available on demand with a DTSS contracted practitioner.

In the longer-term, the NOHP sets out the reform of services so that children can access regular, prevention-focused oral healthcare from birth. Children will be supported to access a local general dental practice from birth and will be able to continue to access regular public care at their chosen practice until they turn 16.

An implementation plan for the first phase of rollout to end-2027 is being finalised between my Department and the HSE and contains development of these new services for children as among the initial priorities.