Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 June 2026
287. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the focused two-year oral health action plan referred to in the Sláintecare 2026 Action Plan, described as expected to be completed shortly and presented to her ahead of publication, will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48125/26]
View answerI am determined to ease the pressure people are facing now in accessing oral healthcare. In practical terms, that means improving access through the public oral healthcare system—especially for children and adult medical card holders. My Department and the HSE are finalising a more focused two-year action plan to deliver real improvements on the ground. This is due to be published in the next quarter.
The plan will be driven by a dedicated governance group, with progress monitored closely and aligned to wider HSE and Department priorities. It will aim to respond to sustained service pressures, workforce constraints, and long waiting lists—particularly for children and for people with additional needs.
It will focus on a small number of clear priorities:
• Cut waiting lists in the School Dental Programme and orthodontics
• Strengthen and expand the Special Access Programme
• Reviewing and improving the Dental Treatment Services Scheme
• Support recruitment, education and training
• Support innovation and new ways of delivering care
• Over the next two years, the aim is to stabilise services, reduce waiting times, and make access measurably better for patients—while laying the groundwork for longer-term reform. This will be achieved by initiatives such as utilising the newly available capacity that the new surgical hubs will provide as they continue to come onstream to enable reductions in waiting times for GA (General Anaesthetic) access for patients – both children and adults.
