Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

367. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to expand access to the orthodontic scheme for children and strengthen the School Dental Programme. [36859/25]

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

At present, the HSE Oral Healthcare Service aims to provide an oral examination and necessary treatment for children at up to three intervals, targeting 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.

The current child oral health examination programme delivered by HSE clinics has been impacted by capacity challenges in recent years. The HSE is working to support access to this current model of care, while substantive service reform proceeds through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy (NOHP). There are currently 34.7 whole-time equivalent posts vacant across the oral healthcare grades in the HSE, which the HSE is working to fill. In Budget 2025, an additional €2m in funding, increasing to €4m in 2026, was provided to continue implementation of the NOHP and support recruitment of 15 additional HSE oral healthcare staff nationally to deliver oral healthcare in our community, including supporting children to access the current primary school programme of routine check-ups.

The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have the greatest level of need and have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. Referrals for HSE orthodontic assessment are made at the sixth-class oral health assessment appointment, if the dentist determines that the child may meet the HSE's criteria. Children whose treatment need is assessed by a HSE orthodontist as being in Grade 4 or Grade 5 of the Index are offered treatment through the HSE. No medical card is required for this treatment.

There has been significant investment of €17m between 2022 and 2024 to support access to children’s orthodontic treatment. This funding has seen the creation of a new initiative supporting access to jaw surgery for orthodontic patients and the transfer of over 4000 patients into private, community-based orthodontic treatment. These successful initiatives are being continued this year through the provision of €2.85 million in funding nationally. Through this initiative, in 2025, 128 patients have been transferred to private orthodontic care and 33 patients have received jaw surgery as part of their orthodontic treatment.

In the longer-term, the NOHP sets out a complete transformation of oral healthcare services and expansion of the care available for both children and adults. Under the new model of care which is in development by the HSE, families will be able to access free, age-appropriate oral healthcare for their children, at a dental practice of their choosing in their local community which holds a contract with the HSE. Children will be able to attend for care starting from birth and continuing regularly throughout their childhood. This will mirror how families currently access free GP care for their children.

An implementation plan for the first phase of policy implementation to end-2027 is being finalised and contains development of new services for children and for adults as among the initial priorities.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

368. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to hire more public dentists and to indicate the number of public dentists currently employed by the State. [36860/25]

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

The Government is committed to hiring more public dentists, and funding was allocated in Budget 2025 to support the recruitment of 15 additional oral healthcare WTEs in the HSE. This investment is providing an additional 15 HSE dental staff across dentists and dental nurses to deliver oral healthcare in the community, including the primary school oral health examination programme for children. Further, the HSE has sanctioned filling 34.7 existing WTE vacancies in the Oral Healthcare Service and have advised that the recruitment process has commenced.

There are currently 289 WTE dentists in the HSE's Oral Healthcare Service, across the various grades of dentist.

There are now more dentists than ever registered in Ireland - with 3,888 dentists on the Dental Council register as of June 2025. This reflects ongoing upward trends regarding registered dentists in the State, and compares favourably with the numbers in April 2019, when Smile agus Sláinte was published – 3,100, an increase of over 25%.

This Government is firmly committed to ensuring that our healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates —including in critical areas such as oral healthcare and dentistry. Ensuring adequate capacity to train future dentists is part of our broader commitment to workforce planning that supports the health and wellbeing of our population.