The dental scheme which provides care for the country's medical card holders is "in a state of crisis", and its decline will only worsen without meaningful reforms, the Oireachtas health committee will be told today. “The DTSS, which provides care for medical card holders, is in a state of crisis,” his opening statement reads. We welcome the opening of the new RCSI dental school, which will provide a welcome increase in our graduate capacity. "We also have concerns as to the plans for the Cork dental school, considering the failure to commence building a new dental school which was due to be completed in 2023. "School screening is vital to ensuring children can access preventative care, which dramatically reduces the need for future interventions.

Source: Irish Examiner January 14, 2026 08:30 UTC