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

240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action that will be taken to increase the percentage of places available on the dental training course in UCC given that less than half are currently occupied by Irish students, that there is a need for more dentists to reduce public waiting list in the south-west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21759/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is committed to increasing healthcare training places, including dentistry, in line with the Programme for Government and workforce needs identified by the Department of Health. Dentistry has been clearly identified as an area requiring additional graduate supply, including to address waiting lists and regional service needs, particularly in the south-west.

Higher Education Institutions, including University College Cork (UCC), are autonomous under the relevant legislation and manage their own academic and administrative affairs, including admissions policies. The inclusion of international students plays an important role in supporting programme sustainability. Nevertheless, my officials, in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Health, are actively engaging to ensure an appropriate balance of Irish and EU students, particularly on programmes critical to meeting public service needs such as dentistry. The current proportion of Irish/EU students in undergraduate dentistry at UCC is over 60%.

To expand Irish/EU training capacity, my Department is actively engaging with UCC and the Department of Health on a proposal to establish a community-based dental outreach centre in North Cork. This model will allow students to gain earlier clinical exposure in primary care settings and enhance graduate readiness. My officials met with UCC in February 2026 to progress this proposal, which includes a request for €4.7 million in capital funding. Engagement is ongoing, and we await further updates from UCC. I am informed that the proposal is undergoing the necessary capital appraisal processes, including HSE assessment under the Strategic Healthcare Investment Framework (SHIF). While funding and timelines cannot yet be confirmed, a key objective is to maximise the number of Irish and EU students trained, ensure value for money, and align with workforce needs.

These initiatives complement the new Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), which commenced in September 2025 with 20 Irish/EU places and has capacity to increase to 35 by 2027, subject to approvals.

Through these measures, alongside wider national expansions in healthcare training, my Department remains committed to sustainable growth of dental education to meet workforce needs, reduce waiting lists, and support accessible oral healthcare, consistent with the Smile agus Sláinte oral health policy.