Another key concern raised was the lack of an implementation plan for a 2019 oral health policy called Smile Agus Sláinte. A spokeswoman for the department said: “The Government is committed to reforming oral healthcare services through the implementation of the national oral health policy, Smile Agus Sláinte.”Its two main goals of providing supports for everyone to have healthy teeth and reducing oral health inequalities are being worked on. The latter, she said, is about “enabling vulnerable people to access oral healthcare and improve their oral health". Over 1.5m people now have a medical card, giving adults free access to certain dental services. The department is working with the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment colleagues on improving sustainability in dental services, she said.

Source: Irish Examiner January 08, 2026 16:39 UTC