Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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717. To ask the Minister for Health the status of his Department’s discussions with an association (details supplied) in relation to agreeing a new contract and provision for dental care services for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7805/22]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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792. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the commitment in Budget 2022 to provide for a dental scheme for medical card holders; the exact funding earmarked for this; the details of the improvements that can be expected for medical card holders; and the expected dates of implementation. [8061/22]

Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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889. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the Departmental review of the dental medical card scheme; if a timeline can be provided for its completion; his plans to alleviate access issues to dentists for medical card holders in the short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8317/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 717, 792 and 889 together.

The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTTS) is available to medical card holders aged 16 and over. The dental care is provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. Patients may choose to have their treatment undertaken by any dentist who participates in the Scheme.

The Scheme covers a dental examination, two fillings in each calendar year, prescriptions, denture repairs and extractions as necessary. Other more complex treatments such as the provision of dentures require the prior approval of the HSE.

I fully acknowledge the need to align the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), with best international evidence and practice, as outlined in Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy, and I have given a commitment to the Irish Dental Association to begin substantive discussions by the second quarter of this year.

My immediate priority is to seek to address the current situation of medical card patients experiencing problems in accessing treatment.

In that respect, officials from my Department and from the HSE have held two rounds of discussions with the IDA, the most recent on 17 December last when my Department and the HSE presented proposals to invest additional resources in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, including €10m provided in the Budget, on top of the 2022 Estimate allocation of €56 million.

The Department / HSE has offered increased fees across a number of items and proposed the reintroduction of the Scale and Polish item.

These proposals were expedited to address not only the problem of access for patients, but also concerns expressed by dentists about the viability of the DTSS, and to some extent, to bring about alignment with the Dental Treatment Benefits Scheme, which is widely operated by dentists for PRSI patients.

The Department is anxious to move the process on, in the interests of patients, and is hoping to meet the IDA again in the next couple of weeks to progress matters.

In the meantime, I have been assured that the HSE Public Dental Service is seeking to provide emergency cover for any medical card patients who are experiencing problems in accessing a service.