Last June I raised the issue of the collapse of the HSE dental services across the State and since then the situation has gotten far worse, to the extent that the Irish Dental Association now believes that there are only 750 dentists actively treating medical card holders. This has led to shocking waiting lists across the State and also to the denial of services to countless people. There are more than 10,000 people on orthodontics lists waiting longer than a year and half of those people are waiting longer than three years. That is not acceptable for any patient or for any condition anywhere. Can the Taoiseach explain to me why there has not been an intervention from the Department of Health to deal with this growing crisis? Why are there no serious talks between the Department and the dentists to fix the dental treatment contract and to prioritise preventative oral healthcare? How will the Government ensure that older people, including workers and families on the lowest incomes, can access the good dental treatment they require?

There has been intervention, as I explained to the House earlier. An extra €10 million was allocated in the budget, which is available to provide for dental services on an interim basis to medical card holders. There have been discussions between the Irish Dental Association, private contractors and the State, which represents the people and which wants to do the best for the people. It is time an interim solution was found based on the money that has already been allocated, and I would appeal to the Irish Dental Association to engage constructively on the utilisation of that funding.