Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
73. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the ongoing issue of chronic dentist understaffing in Cork and Kerry, and the significant impact this is having on access to dental services for the public; when the oral health policy will be fully implemented, particularly in relation to addressing staffing shortages with a view to improving delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4484/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is aware of recruitment and retention challenges which are discussed and reviewed at monthly performance engagement meetings with the HSE. This includes discussing various Health Regions that have issues regarding their staffing.
In terms of addressing staffing issues in the HSE public dental services, it should be noted that €4m is being invested to support the addition of 15 HSE dental staff across dentists and dental nurses to deliver oral healthcare in the community. Further, I understand the HSE has sanctioned filling 34.7 existing WTE vacancies in the Oral Healthcare Service.
I am committed to implementing the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte which contains a range of strategic workforce planning actions to increase national workforce capacity, in support of improving patient access to care. The Department of Health has finalised a workforce census for oral healthcare and a scoping project for a mid-level professional grade for oral healthcare, as an additional measure to increase capacity in the workforce.
A programme to encourage the redistribution of oral healthcare professionals to underserved areas is also a key action in the Policy. For oral healthcare professionals working in isolated rural areas far away from centres of education, it will be essential to provide support in the form of mentoring programmes as well as by introducing long-distance and accessible continuing development education programmes.
In terms of capacity building, Department of Health officials engage on an ongoing basis with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that we train enough graduates with the skills necessary to support the delivery of health and social care services and to develop a strategic approach to workforce planning for the health and social care sector.
Significant progress has been made working with the Higher Education Sector and Professional Bodies to increase student training places for the health sector including dentistry. A new Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) was established in 2025 providing an additional 20 dentistry places for EU students in 2025.
Further work is underway with DFHERIS and other relevant Government Departments and the HEA to increase the number of student places across all health and social care professions.
