Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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205. To ask the Minister for Health if her Department has engaged with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with a view to increasing the number of training places in each of the dental schools both at University College Cork and at Trinity College Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34759/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Government is firmly committed to ensuring our healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates. One of the priorities of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte, is to expand and maximise the oral healthcare workforce capacity in Ireland.

As part of this, my Department regularly engages with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in respect of additional student dental places.

In 2023, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) carried out a targeted capacity expansion exercise across priority healthcare areas. In Dentistry, three proposals were submitted by University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, and the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) in Ireland respectively.

The Government have agreed to advance the process with the investment to be considered in the context of Budgetary processes and the National Development Plan review. The RCSI proposal has progressed into a tangible programme for the HEA, which is coming on stream in September this year, providing over 25 additional new dentistry undergraduate places.

My Department has recently received a proposal from University College Cork (UCC), requesting capital funding to establish a dental outreach centre. This would enable training of an additional ten undergraduate dental students annually, particularly benefiting Irish and EU students. While the proposal is promising, it currently delivers limited increases in domestic student places. Discussions are currently ongoing between my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on this with a view to maximising Irish and EU places.

My Department is fully supportive of the opportunities to expand capacity in both UCC and Trinity College Dublin and would be in favour of any proposal to increase the number of dental graduates that will practice in Ireland.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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206. To ask the Minister for Health the current number of dentists in each HSE area who are providing care for medical card patients, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34760/25]

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.