Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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2744. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of the current levels of funding allocated to oral health promotion initiatives; if she will consider increasing support for organisations (details supplied) in recognition of their vital role in delivering preventive oral health programmes nationwide, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41811/25]

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.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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2745. To ask the Minister for Health the evaluation that has been undertaken regarding the impact of existing oral health promotion programmes and the potential to enhance oral health in communities delivered by community-based organisations (details supplied); if these findings will inform future funding decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41812/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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2746. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider ringfencing additional funding in budget 2026 to support community-based oral health promotion programmes that target at-risk and underserved populations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41813/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2745 and 2746 together.

The National Oral Health Policy (NOHP), Smile Agus Sláinte, sets out the vision for the future of oral healthcare services in Ireland. The Policy has two key goals:

1. To provide the supports to enable every individual to achieve their personal best oral health; and

2. To reduce oral health inequalities across the population, by enabling vulnerable groups to access oral healthcare and improve their oral health.

Development of the NOHP was informed by considerable evidence inputs supported by an Oral Health Policy Academic Reference Group, consultations with key stakeholders, considerable feedback from a number of consultations with frontline workers including dentists and auxiliary dental workers, and a comprehensive qualitative research project.

Policy development was also fully cognisant of technical concepts which the World Health Organisation (WHO) have endorsed for several decades, including the emphasis on preventative care. Accordingly, Smile Agus Sláinte reflects the ethos, practices and intentions of the WHO’s Global Oral Health Resolution, Strategy and Action Plan. This WHO framework also recognises the importance of oral health promotion as one of six strategic objectives, and places obligations on Ireland as a WHO Member State to develop and expand a range of oral health promotion measures.

Oral health promotion is one of three strategic strands of the NOHP, alongside oral healthcare service provision and evaluation of oral health. The HSE has legislative responsibility to design and deliver, or to arrange to be delivered on its behalf, public health and social care services. This means that actions within the NOHP which relate to the design and delivery of public oral healthcare services, including oral healthcare promotion, are the responsibility of the HSE.

The development of new services for children and adults that is underway within the HSE is based on a package of care approach, in which eligible patients of all ages will be able to access age-appropriate oral health promotion as part of their care when they attend a dental practice of their choice in their local community. The HSE will also ensure new national oral health promotion programmes are put in place, including programmes targeted at those in socioeconomically deprived areas and for groups who can be more vulnerable to poorer oral health outcomes.

The implementation plan for the 2025-2027 phase of the Policy is currently being finalised by my Department and the HSE following targeted consultation in Q3 last year and includes development of new services, including oral health promotion, for children and adults as among the initial priorities.

The implementation plan will provide a multi-annual framework for budgetary considerations, which in any given year must be cognisant of a range of relevant factors.