John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2377. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to extend temporary registration licenses to stamp 4 non-EU dentists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20540/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Dentists Act 1985 establishes the Dental Council as the regulatory body for the dental profession in Ireland. As such, issues concerning the registration of dentists are a matter for the Dental Council to consider.

Temporary registration is only available to persons not eligible for full registration. The Dental Council advises that it only grants temporary registration in limited and mainly education related circumstances. The applicants visa status is not a factor in the Dental Council’s consideration.

For all applicants for full registration, bar those granted international protection, the key criteria in determining their registration pathway is the country where the applicant undertook their dental education.

There are different registration pathways for:

• Irish graduates and graduates from countries with which we have reciprocal agreements,

• graduates from the EEA,

• graduates from the UK, and

• graduates from non-EEA countries.

Non-refugee graduates from non-EEA countries must pass the Dental Council examination.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2378. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to expand access to a mentorship programme and period of adaptation to all eligible non-EU dentists residing in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20541/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Dentists Act 1985 establishes the Dental Council as the regulatory body for the dental profession in Ireland. As such, issues concerning the registration of dentists are a matter for the Dental Council to consider.

The Dental Council introduced a registration pathway for refugees in response to the EU Commission’s request to assess the qualifications from refugees from the war in Ukraine. This pathway includes a mentorship programme whereby refugee dentists can practice under the mentorship of an established registered dentist. To avail of this registration pathway you must be a qualified dentist with current Temporary Protection or Refugee Status in Ireland. The Dental Council has opened this process to any refugee granted international protection in Ireland.

For applicants who qualified outside of the EU and do not have refugee status or temporary protection in Ireland, the appropriate pathway to registration is the Dental Council Examination.

The Dental Council is continually seeking to increase the capacity to take more candidates into its examination pathway. The Dental Council has increased the number of places on its examination from 11 in 2018 to over 60 in 2025 and it gives an active advantage to non-EEA qualified dentists who are already established in Ireland and who wish to sit the examination.

There are no plans to introduce an additional registration pathway or to change the existing pathways for non-EEA qualification holders.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2379. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to increase the frequency and intake capacity of the Dental Council’s registration examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20542/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Dentists Act 1985 establishes the Dental Council as the regulatory body for the dental profession in Ireland. As such, issues concerning the registration of dentists are a matter for the Dental Council to consider.

The Dental Council advises that it is continuing to look at the potential to further increase capacity for the Dental Council examination for non-EEA dentists. For the 2024 examination, capacity was increased by 50% in co-operation with the Dublin and Cork dental schools whose support, clinical resources and expertise are a key component of the examination.

Noting that the examination provides a route to registration and practise for dentists, the Dental Council will continue to maintain a focus on competence and patient safety throughout its efforts in this area.