I would like a debate on the provision of dental services in Ireland, especially by practices that accept medical cards.

In my home county there are four dentists registered for the scheme, but between them being at capacity and other issues, no one seems to be taking on any new patients. There are 810 dentists nationally registered for the programme and I believe only about 600 of them are actually active. Back in 2019, there were 1,500 dentists accepting medical cards. We have had a huge loss of dentists involved in that programme. This means that people all over the country are facing extended waiting times to see a dentist. By the time they actually see a dentist, sometimes the only measures acceptable to them at that stage are extractions. We all understand and know the implications that dental health has on overall health and the cost to the actual health service of not providing this. This is something we definitely need to discuss in this House and have an open conversation on. In January the Irish Dental Association said that we need about 500 new dentists into the system right here, right now. The provision of work that dental hygienists can conduct also needs to be looked at. This House has an opportunity to raise this, highlight it and address it. It is at an emergency level at the moment.