I wish to raise again the crisis in the dental treatment purchase scheme and the fact that people with medical cards have not been able to access a dentist for over 12 months. It is almost 15 months at this stage. Patients with diabetes and patients with cancer are all denied access to basic dental treatment. The Irish Dental Association met with the HSE on 2 March to try to get a resolution to this. The HSE has not rescheduled a meeting until June, which is a full three months away. Given that so many people across the State are being denied access to dental treatment and that schoolchildren are not being screened in first class and sixth class, where is the sense of urgency and what pressure has the Government put on the HSE to deal with this, in view of the length of time it has been going on and the fact that people are being denied access to dental care?

It is not a matter of the Government putting pressure on the HSE. The HSE will be well aware of the importance of dental care and, in particular, the importance of young girls and boys getting the help and support they need early in life to look after their teeth and their dental needs. I will follow up to see why no further engagement is planned, as the Deputy has just suggested. I understood engagement and work were under way on this issue, and I will raise it with the Minister for Health.