Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
879. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans to increase the number of dental hygienists in Ireland and to allow them to make a greater contribution to oral healthcare in Ireland. [45147/26]
View answerI am pleased to note that dental hygienists were removed from the Ineligible Occupations List last month by my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Accordingly, dental hygienists are now eligible for General Employment Permits in Ireland. This measure will increase the stock of dental hygienists who can practice and work here in Ireland.
To hire a non-EEA national, employers must secure a job offer and pass a Labour Market Needs Test (advertising the role locally first). Applicants must also register with the Irish Dental Council to practice.
The National Oral Health Policy envisages moving oral healthcare services to a more prevention-focused model. In this model, dental hygienists could provide preventative elements of the oral healthcare services to both children and adults. However, the number of training places for dental hygienists in Ireland is currently limited, with approximately 20 dental hygiene places per annum between University College Cork and Dublin Dental University Hospital at Trinity College Dublin. We are working to address this.
One of the Programme for Government commitments is to increase the number of healthcare college places including in dentistry which I am committed to advancing to ensure our healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates.
My Department regularly engages with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) to discuss the expansion of training places with regards to oral healthcare professionals including dental hygienists. In that context, I understand that officials from DFHERIS are engaging with University College Cork 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 capacity in dentistry, dental hygiene and dental nursing training places.
My Department has also received a draft proposal to increase training places for oral healthcare professionals including dental hygienists at the Dublin Dental University Hospital at Trinity College Dublin. This will require further discussion to progress this proposal with the aim to maximise the benefit this proposal will have in terms of increasing the number of oral healthcare professionals in Ireland, as well as increased service provision.
I am keen as Minister for Health to enhance the contribution that dental hygienists can make and I want to see the role of dental hygienists amplified. I have instructed my Department to accelerate the necessary consideration of this matter and work is ongoing on this.
My Department officials have met with the Irish Dental Hygienists Association earlier this year to discuss proposals for direct access for dental hygienists. Following this meeting, a policy paper has been developed with a view to advancing direct access for dental hygienists. Direct access must be safe and of course add value for patients.
There is ongoing engagement between my Department and the Dental Council as the regulator to discuss direct access and we are committed to progressing proposals to utilise dental hygienists who are important part of our oral healthcare workforce.
Alongside this, engagement with DFHERIS and the Higher Education Authority is ongoing to expand our oral healthcare workforce capacity in a sustainable and strategic manner, as well as exploring capacity regionally across the Technological University sector. By enhancing our future workforce, we are taking steps to ensure that the National Oral Health Policy is implemented.
