3871. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of dental school places in third level institutes in each of the years from the 2019-2020 academic year to 2025-2026 academic year, by third level institute, in tabular form; the planned increases for the upcoming academic year and subsequent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58073/26]

The Deputy should note that my Department 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 dentistry graduates to support the delivery of oral healthcare services.

There are now three undergraduate programmes for Dentistry, including the existing programmes in Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork. This is as a result of the initial HEA Expression of Interest process.

I am aware that is currently no quota on dentistry programmes, and therefore the number of places offered is a matter for the higher education institutions, in line with their autonomy. However, I do acknowledge that due to a number of factors including the high cost of specialised equipment and facilities required for dentistry training, there can be material constraints on the number of students that can be accepted onto dentistry courses.

It is important that any increases in training provision is achieved in a sustainable way with an evidence based understanding of the future needs of the health system. My officials have been engaging with colleagues in DFHERIS regarding the potential expansion of dentistry training provision.

Part of this engagement has resulted in a proposal for funding from University College Cork to establish a dental outreach centre. This would enable the training of additional undergraduate students in the dentistry programme, in a primary care setting, benefiting both Irish and EU students. Discussions are currently ongoing between my Department and DFHERIS to try and progress this proposal with a view to maximising both Irish and EU places to enhance workforce capacity in Ireland, as well as increased service provision.

My Department officials have recently received a draft proposal to increase the number of dental places at the Dublin Dental University Hospital, located at Trinity College Dublin. This will require further discussion and agreement between my Department and DFHERIS.

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. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) School of Dentistry was established in September 2025 to help address Ireland’s dental workforce needs and improve access to oral healthcare. This Government is making a significant investment in this programme to address demand for dentistry services in Ireland. The programme trains future dentists in a community-based model, where students develop their clinical skills in real patient-care settings under direct supervision. The RCSI has informed us that its intake is 30 students, 21 of whom are Irish/EU students. There is capacity to increase the total annual EU intake in this course to 35 places by 2027. This will represent a 60% increase on dental training places in Ireland compared to 2024. Overall, the RCSI has indicated that it will produce 75 graduate dentists per annum when fully operational.

My Department remains committed to ensuring that our oral healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates. Further work is underway with DFHERIS and other relevant Government Departments and the HEA to explore the potential expansion of student places across health and social care professions including dentistry.

The data requested by the Deputy is detailed in the spreadsheet attached. This data was sourced from the HEA student records system (SRS). Student enrolment data for the academic year 2025/2026 is not yet available.