Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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2642. To ask the Minister for Health for Health her plans to provide the necessary funding to expand capacity and train more dentists at Cork University Dental School and Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41201/25]

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 studying and dental graduates being produced.

My Department continue to engage regularly with University College Cork and Cork University Dental School and Hospital. As part of this engagement, the Department of Health has received a proposal for funding from University College Cork to establish a dental outreach centre. This would enable the training of additional undergraduate students in the dentistry programme, in a primary care setting, benefiting both Irish and EU students. Discussions are currently ongoing between my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to try and progress this proposal with a view to maximising Irish and EU places to enhance workforce capacity in Ireland.

My Department remains committed to ensuring that our oral healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates. Ensuring adequate capacity to train future dentists is part of the Government's commitment to workforce planning that supports the health and well-being of our population. By enhancing our future workforce, we are taking steps to ensure that the National Oral Health Policy is implemented.

Work is ongoing through the appropriate processes to explore all options to support UCC to deliver on their remit regarding both education and healthcare service provision.