275. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the elements of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte, that remain unimplemented; the timeline for implementation of the outstanding measures; the funding allocated for their delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48068/26]

276. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the person or body that currently holds overall responsibility for delivery of national oral healthcare reform under Smile agus Sláinte within her Department and the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48069/26]

278. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated to implementation of Smile agus Sláinte in each year since 2019; the projects funded under those allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48071/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 275, 276 and 278 together.

In 2019 the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte, was published. The policy aims to radically transform oral healthcare services - recognising the need for an entirely new approach to oral healthcare to meet the needs of our population into the future. The Policy is in line with the 2024 WHO Action Plan on oral health.

€17m in one-off funding was invested between 2022 and 2024 to support access to children’s orthodontic treatment. This funding has seen the creation of a new initiative supporting access to jaw surgery for orthodontic patients and the transfer of over 5500 patients into private, community-based orthodontic treatment. A further €2.85m was invested in 2025 and is being continued into 2026 to continue these successful orthodontic treatment waiting list initiatives and enable children to access orthodontic care.

In 2025, an additional €2m in funding supported continued policy implementation and the hiring of 15 HSE oral healthcare staff to improve access to existing community services in our HSE dental and orthodontic clinics. This increased to €4m this year.

While that reform is progressed, I am determined to ease the pressure people are facing now. In practical terms, that means improving access through the public 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.

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.

My Department and HSE officials have already initiated engagements with many of the stakeholders that will have important roles in enabling much better access to dental services across the country.

Recent engagements with for example, the Irish Dental Association (IDA), the Irish Dental Hygienists Association (IDHA) and the Dental Council have ranged from addressing waiting lists and delivering near term improvements to the schools program, to improving the supply of dental team members by exploring innovative ways of broadening the educational and training options for both hygienists and dental nurses. We will also be consulting with colleagues in DFHERIS on educational opportunities for both the current and future dental workforce.

My Department officials are currently engaging with HSE counterparts to progress this action plan, due for publication in the next quarter.