Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

3237. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any plans to work with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to reform work permit regulations concerning the visa process for non-EEA dental nurses to practise in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44021/25]

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

Reform of work permit regulations to allow non-EEA nationals to work in Ireland - including dental nurse- falls within the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

My Department does acknowledge the important and effective role the employment permit system plays in meeting the skills and labour shortages in the State from a health perspective, on a short-term basis. It is welcoming to note that the Government has recently announced the opening of a consultation period to allow stakeholders to make submissions on the work permit occupations list.

The Ineligible Occupations List consists of occupations for which there is an adequate supply of labour and skills, and for which an employment permit will not be issued. Currently dental nurses are on the Ineligible Occupations List. Any proposal advocating removing dental nurses from the Ineligible Occupations List will be considered subject to the receipt of an evidence-based and data-driven submission.

My Department is aware that there may be challenges in recruiting dental nurses however, the number of dental nurses has increased in recent years. As of June 2025, there are now 912 active registrants on the Register of Dental Nurses. This has increased over the past three years, there are now an additional 148 registered dental nurses, noting that registration is voluntary for dental nurses.

My Department also supports any expansion in the oral healthcare workforce and is working with the Education and Training Boards to convert the Dental Nurse Traineeship into a National Apprenticeship Programme to support the training of the next generation of dental nurses for our oral healthcare workforce.