Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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2536. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any plans to reintroduce a vocational training programme for graduate dentists to support the transition into the workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44019/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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There are currently no plans to reintroduce a vocational training programme for graduate dentists. I am aware that a 12-month Vocational Training Scheme was available between 1999 and 2011 for graduate dentists. As there was limited interest in the Scheme, this Scheme ceased in 2011. Vocational training now must be conducted under the university system, through clinical placements, and obtaining more clinical exposure that way.

In Ireland, dentists are fully qualified upon graduation to practice and have the necessary clinical placements and experience gained throughout undergraduate training, ensuring alignment with the European Union's Professional Qualification Directive.

My Department is exploring the possibility of providing mentoring and support schemes for oral healthcare professionals, which is in line with the National Oral Health Policy.

There is an appetite within Government to introduce a scheme that ties in graduates to work in the Health Service Executive for a defined period, which is aligned with one of the Programme for Government commitments. Any such post-graduate programme must be aligned with the principles of the Professional Qualifications Directive.

On a positive note, dentistry programmes are supporting dentistry graduates by placing a focus on training in primary care settings, which can be based in the community. It is hoped that placing an academic focus on primary oral healthcare in dental schools will help support dentistry students to make the transition into the workforce upon graduation.