Malcolm Byrne
Question:199. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health for an update on plans to increase the number of dentists in Ireland. [28390/26]
View answerTuesday, 21 April 2026
Questions (199)
Written answers
It is heartening to note that there are 3,909 dentists on the Dental Council register as of 16th of April 2026 which is an increase of 86 since this time last year, April 2025. This reflects ongoing upward trends regarding registered dentists in the State, and compares favourably with the numbers in April 2019, when Smile agus Sláinte was published – 3,100, an increase of over 26%. However, it is unknown how that figure translates into capacity in terms of dental appointments and the ranges of treatments available.
In terms of increasing the capacity of dentists in Ireland my Department intends to address workforce capacity by further engaging with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
I welcome the publication of the report from the Joint Committee on Health on Dental Services in the Healthcare service last week. One of the recommendations in the report includes increasing the capacity to train and educate new dental professionals which my Department is currently advancing in collaboration with DFHERIS.
As part of this engagement, I understand that officials from DFHERIS met with University College Cork in February of this year to discuss in detail its proposal to establish a community-based dental outreach centre in North Cork, and to advance this important project.
The proposal, which includes a request for capital investment from my Department will support an increase in undergraduate dental training capacity and provide students with earlier clinical exposure in primary care settings.
My Department has also received a draft proposal to increase to the number dental training places at the Dublin Dental University Hospital at Trinity College Dublin. This will require further discussion to progress this proposal with the aim to maximise both Irish and EU places to enhance workforce capacity in Ireland, as well as increased service provision.
We will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders including both Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork to increase the capacity at both dental schools.
Both these initiatives complement the new Bachelor of Dental Surgery Programme at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RSCI) which commenced in September 2025. The RCSI has informed us that its intake is 30 students, 21 of whom are Irish/EU students. The RCSI has secured an agreement with the HEA to expand its intake to 35 Irish/EU student places by 2027. Over time, this will expand domestic graduate output by approximately 25% and contribute to workforce sustainability. Overall, the RCSI has indicated that it will produce 75 graduate dentists per annum when fully operational.
We will continue to work with DFHERIS to increase dental training capacity in a sustainable and strategic manner. Ensuring adequate capacity to train future dentists is part of the Government's commitment to workforce planning that supports the health and wellbeing of our population.