Michael Cahill
Ceist:110. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to address the urgent need for major investment in the public dental schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4554/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 22 January 2026
Ceisteanna (110)
Freagraí scríofa
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides oral healthcare, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, extractions, and a scale and polish. More complex care, such as dentures, additional fillings and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients, are available subject to the approval of the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon.
A package of measures was introduced in 2022 to expand the care available under the Scheme and significantly increase the fees paid to contractors. These measures are having an impact, with access to care continuing to increase each year since they were introduced. In 2025, over 241,000 additional treatments were provided under the DTSS, supporting over 50,000 extra patients compared with 2022.
Fees paid to dentists for DTSS care are now aligned with other European countries which provide comparable public dental care, noting that many European countries, especially in the southern and eastern regions, don’t have any scheme in place for adults, which is free at point of access.
I acknowledge that the current public dental service, which was developed in the 1990s in response to the identified oral healthcare needs at that time, needs to be modernised and aligned with current needs. I am committed to reforming oral healthcare services through the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte. The National Oral Health Policy sets out the vision for oral healthcare services in Ireland and has two key goals:
• to provide the supports to enable every individual to achieve their personal best oral health.
• to reduce oral health inequalities across the population, by enabling vulnerable groups to access oral healthcare and improve their oral health.
Reform of our services is vital to enable people of all ages to access modern, prevention-focused care. A plan for the first phase of implementation is currently at an advanced stage, for publication in the coming months and contains reform of primary care services for adults and children as priorities. The Policy also contains a range of strategic workforce planning actions to increase national workforce capacity, in support of improving patient access to care.