The Irish Dental Association (IDA) welcomes the contributions made during today’s - Wednesday 16th July - Dáil debate on dental services as introduced by Deputy Brian Stanley as a timely and necessary spotlight on long-standing failures in the public dental system — failures that are now severely impacting access to care, particularly for children and vulnerable groups.

€800 million state spending cuts represent a lost decade in oral healthcare. 104,000 schoolchildren did not receive care under school dental scheme in 2023. President Will Rymer: “As the Smile agus Sláintecare implementation plan is being finalised, we must ensure that it is backed by necessary funding from the Department of Finance”

Dr Will Rymer appointed President of the Irish Dental Association. In his inaugural address, the Tipperary dentist welcomes legislation that will afford greater protection for patients in Ireland. Dr Rymer also called for further reforms within dentistry including the requirement for statutory Continual Professional Development (CPD) to bring dentistry in line with all other healthcare professionals.