Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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1463. To ask the Minister for Health if recruitment of public dentists is still facing an embargo due to HSE budget constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29755/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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1464. To ask the Minister for Health the plans she is putting in place to expand or invest in the dental schools in UCC and Trinity College Dublin to train enough dental practitioners to meet patient demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29756/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should note that there has been significant effort made over the past few years to increase investment in Higher Education Institutions in order to increase the number of students being produced.

In 2022, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) conducted an exercise to identify options for the creation of additional capacity in a range of disciplines including Dentistry. Both dental schools in UCC and Trinity College Dublin submitted proposals to expand their courses. The HEA report in 2023 recommended UCC's dentistry proposal for delivering additional capacity. It must be noted that this recommendation and associated investment must be considered by Departments in the context of the ongoing National Development Plan review given the significant capital costs involved in expansion.

Officials from the Department of Health are currently liaising with Cork University Dental School and Hospital regarding plans to expand capacity and train more dentists. My Department welcomes any proposal for expansion in the capacity of the dental workforce.

Health capital investment decisions are informed by Programme for Government priorities, sectoral policies, strategies and reform initiatives as set out in Sláintecare.

Work is ongoing through the appropriate processes to explore options to support both dental schools in UCC and Trinity College Dublin to deliver on their remits regarding both education and healthcare service provision.