Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster has described the government’s inaction on dental services for Louth and elsewhere as deplorable.
Deputy Munster was commenting after a briefing to members in Leinster House from The Irish Dental Association on the state of dental services in the state.
Deputy Munster said “I have raised the issue of lack of dental services for medical card holders in Drogheda multiple times. It has long been a concern that so many dentists are leaving the DTSS scheme that offers dental services to medical card holders.
“I have raised the fact that Drogheda, Ireland’s largest town, currently has no dentists offering services to medical card holders.
“I have also raised the fact that thousands of children in Louth and Meath are still waiting for their first routine check-up. Something we all had in a timely manner when we were in school”
“I have raised these matters on multiple occasions and the government has publicly asserted that they are working to resolve the problems in dental services.
“In April health Minister Stephen Donnelly stated that work on a substantive review of the DTSS contract will commence before the end of June.
“However, the Irish Dental Association said that while the government may be talking about resolving issues, they aren’t talking to them, the dental professionals, about it and that they haven’t spoken to The Health Minister since a Zoom Meeting in 2021!
“The Irish Dental Association presentation detailed the many issues facing them, including the lack of University places for students wishing to become dentists, the fact that there are only approximately 600 practicing dentists with DTSS contracts for over a million medical card holders and that there is no referral pathway for medical card holders to consultants in dentistry among others”
“None of these issues will be resolved, Drogheda will be left without dental services for medical card holders, and problems will grow unless the government starts to engage meaningfully with the dentists.”
“Therefore, I have written to the minister to ask the Health Committee to invite the IDA to present its findings on the current crisis in dental and orthodontic care for adults and children. Government inaction on this issue cannot continue”
