I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, for being in the House this morning. I want to highlight the disturbing kidnapping of 315 children from St. Mary's primary and secondary schools in Papiri in Nigeria. It is a school run by a religious order. The superior in the school is a lady called Sr. Mary Barron. She has been seen speaking on the news in recent days. It is horrendous. It is what every parent fears: children taken from their dormitories at night and families left helpless. We know in Ireland that schools have to be a safe place. What happened in Nigeria this week is an attack not only on the community but on the basic right of children to learn, grow and be safe. I want to express my personal support for Sr. Mary, the Irish missionary community overseas and the families who are worried about their children and are living through this nightmare.

I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the steps Ireland can take directly or through the EU or UN to support efforts to secure their safe return. I know 50 children have escaped but if there is any additional diplomatic or humanitarian support needed, Ireland should be ready.

I also want to acknowledge the work of such volunteers as Mary from Donegal, who have devoted their lives to protecting vulnerable children. They should know we in this House stand with them today.

I thank my colleague Senator McCarthy and welcome the Minister of State. What is going on here is the Nigerian Government is failing to protect its own citizens. It is vital that pressure be put on President Tinubu. I recommend listening to what people like Cardinal John Onaiyekan have said in recent days about what is going on. He points out this is not a Christian-Muslim conflict, though there are questions about the persecution of Christians in different parts of the world and questions of religious freedom. It is perhaps time for this Government to think about Ireland having an envoy for religious freedom.

This particular instance is the abduction of over 300 children and about a dozen staff members from a school with a strong connection to Ireland. It was founded partly by an SMA father, Donall O'Cathain. It has about 600 children. Why do children board in such a school? Because it is too far for them to travel to school. This is an activity of the Catholic Church that has been going on for many years. The school is run by the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, an order founded by the Irish SMA Fathers to minister to women in western Africa. They are celebrating 150 years of their wonderful work this year. Many women in that order went out facing disease and danger and many had short lives in the mission territory but the work continues to this day.

Sr. Mary T. Barron, who is the international leader of the congregation based in Rome, was in Ghana when all this happened. She is making exactly the right point and showing the same concern for the parents of the children and the families of the adults abducted. Cardinal Onaiyekan asks whether there is a question of internal sabotage and whether within Nigerian Government ranks are members of Boko Haram, perhaps, or people who support terrorism. The concerted effort that needs to happen is the demand that this security and criminality problem - not a Christian-Muslim conflict - be addressed. The Nigerian Government must protect its own citizens. The least our Government can do, given our country's connection with this place and the wonderful work done by Irish missionaries to this day in Africa, is stand in solidarity with these people and put pressure on the Nigerian Government, hopefully in partnership with other governments. Action must be taken to protect the children and adults in this situation and in the other situations that have arisen far too often in Nigeria.

Gabhaim buíochas le gach duine. I share in both Senators' horror at what has happened to these beautiful little children and their teaching staff. I thank the Senators for raising this important issue and share the deep concern they expressed at the horrific news of the large-scale abduction of over 300 children and 12 teachers from St. Mary's Catholic school in Nigeria last Friday.

I also acknowledge separate abductions of school children which have happened in recent weeks. Unfortunately, this is not something new in Nigeria. I welcome the news on Tuesday of the release of 24 children recently abducted from a separate school in Kebbi state. First and foremost, my thoughts are with the abducted children and teachers from St. Mary's. The majority of the children who were abducted from St. Mary's are very young, of primary school age, and I know I am not alone in expressing my grave concern for their welfare. The news that 50 of the children escaped and have been safely returned to their families is most welcome, and my sincere hope is that the remaining 253 schoolchildren and 12 staff members will be swiftly reunited with their families. I am thinking of the parents and loved ones of all those taken. Their worry and anguish is unimaginable.

Many parts of Nigeria, particularly rural and semi-urban areas, do not have a significant police presence, which makes the task of providing security to populations in those areas challenging. Ireland, bilaterally and as a member state of the EU, works with the Nigerian authorities and with UN and international partners to promote peace and security in areas affected by armed groups and insecurity. The severity of last Friday’s event and the severe escalation in violent attacks and mass kidnappings which has been experienced in Nigeria over recent weeks has been recognised by the Government of Nigeria. We understand that all efforts are being made to locate and secure the release of the abducted students and staff members of St. Mary's School. The recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers, announced by the President of Nigeria is welcome, as are plans by the federal government to upgrade police training facilities nationwide. The President's decision not to attend the G20 Summit and the AU-EU Summit is indicative of the extent of the security issues being faced and the intent of the President to address these.

As Members will be well aware, Ireland has a long history in Nigeria, not least through the work of many Irish missionaries. I am aware in particular of the close links of Irish missionaries to St. Mary's School, and both Senators outlined that very eloquently this morning. Our ambassador and our team at the Irish embassy are liaising closely, and at a high level, with relevant contacts in Nigeria and are continuously monitoring the situation. The team there is liaising closely with EU colleagues on the ground.

People-to-people ties between Ireland and Nigeria date back to the early 19th century when Irish missionaries first arrived in Nigeria. The connection with St. Mary's, which was alluded to regarding the nun from Donegal, does give us an extra role of responsibility in supporting, as an Irish Government, in this time of strife. Nigerian political figures regularly pay tribute to the role of Irish missionaries in the development of the country, particularly in the education and health sectors. I express my appreciation for the role missionaries have played in supporting the education of so many children across Nigeria.

I assure both Senators that the Government is committed to working alongside all relevant partners and with the Nigerian authorities to support St. Mary's School and all those affected by this gravely concerning situation. We will continue to prioritise strengthening peace and security in Nigeria and the broader region.

It is clear the Minister of State is very sympathetic and that the Government is paying attention to this. Perhaps, on occasions like this, the Nigerian ambassador could be called in, specifically because Ireland must claim ownership of this issue, given the strong connections we have.

I accept the Minister of State's assurance regarding our embassy getting involved over there. The Minister of State also mentioned in her statement about the other school in the Kebbi state. It shows a pattern that is not welcome. Certainly it should be stated to the Nigerian ambassador here. In other areas of human rights, I was attending a protest recently at the Nigerian embassy regarding students who had been arrested and imprisoned for their homosexuality. It is 2025 and it is unacceptable. I thank the Minister of State for her assurances, but I ask her to arrange this as a matter of absolute priority.

In terms of the Senator's practical suggestions regarding the Nigerian ambassador, I will most certainly as the new Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, and the Taoiseach to follow up on both Senator's suggestions.

Bunaíodh Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré in 1996. Is í an t-aon Ghaelscoil i gContae Shligigh. Tá an scoil ag feidhmiú ó 1998 ó chlubtheach CLG Naomh Muire agus i deich seomra réamhdéanta atá ag dul in aois. Tá na háiseanna thar a bheith bunúsach agus faoi chaighdeán, níl halla tionóil ann, agus tá costais ard fhuinnimh á n-íoc ag an scoil.

In 2006, the Department initiated site acquisition via OPW offices for a site to be purchased for a new Gaelscoil in Sligo. In 2009, at the school initiative, nearby land was zoned for community use. In 2020, following Sligo County Council endeavours, the Department acquired a four-acre site. This site is fully supported by planning, roads, heritage and Irish Water as suitable for a school. In May 2022, the Department appointed a consultant project manager to drive the design team in this. On 14 June, an architect design team was to be appointed, which was 13 months after the project manager's engagement, which was all very positive. This is under the Adapt 3 programme requirement which is intended to expedite the delivery of schools in leased accommodation. The whole point of this Adapt programme is accelerated delivery of architectural planning and tendering. The actual project at the moment is at stage 2A. After going through all these processes, it should be well up on stage 2A at this point.

There are soundings of the children's hospital at this stage because the performance periods and contract have been routinely breached without consequences. There has been no revised programme communicated. The Department never received a programme about the school. It was only achieved through a freedom of information request. The school has reported poor communication, withheld information and a lack of structural engagement between the school management and the Department of education. The Department is paying €181,000 annually in leased prefab accommodation. The school is forced to seek increased voluntary contributions to avoid closure, and it is the only Gaelscoil in Sligo. The population of Sligo is growing. Taxpayers' money is being wasted through prolonged consultant engagement and delivery.

The príomhoide is set to retire. He has been working on this and has been principal of that school for generations and he is set to retire. He thought he would be moved in a long time ago. The site is there; the planning is there. The concerns we have, and this has been raised, is the failure to uphold the Adapt 3 policy despite its incorporation into contract documents. It has been approved. There is a lack of programme discipline and there is an absence of departmental oversight. Despite having a suitable site, clear planning support, dedicated local authority efforts - the county council is fully onboard with this - and a detailed set of contractual programme requirements, the project to deliver a permanent building for Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré has stalled entirely. Níl sé sin ceart. Níl sé cothrom go gcaithfidh an scoil fanacht chomh fada leis seo ar fhreagra. Ní mór dúinn rud éigin a dhéanamh faoi seo. Níl a fhios againn cad atá á dhéanamh anois.

I thank Senator Cosgrove for raising this important project. This is the only Gaelscoil in County Sligo. These are projects that should absolutely be supported, nourished and given every bit of support, both financial and leadership-wise, to ensure they get done. I appreciate and feel for the principal, who is obviously the person who has championed this for many years. I am lucky because in County Monaghan where we have four Gaelscoileanna, but they are not without their challenges in terms of getting them across the line and getting boots on the ground. It is important for Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré in Sligo.

I thank Senator Cosgrove for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, who cannot be with us today, to outline to the Seanad the current position in relation to the major building project for Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, Sligo. This project is included in the Department of Education and Youth’s construction programme, which will be delivered under the national development plan as part of the Project Ireland 2040 framework. The brief for this project is the development on a greenfield site of a new 12-classroom primary school with additional classrooms for pupils with special additional needs. The major building project is currently at stage 2A of architectural planning, developed design, where the preferred agreed design option can be developed to a stage where the project is fully costed and planned and the scheme can be prepared to lodge for statutory approvals with the local authority. The Senator went through a very detailed summary of the history of all the various stages, so I am sure none of this is new to her.

The Department of Education and Youth has reviewed the stage 2A submission from the design team. The stage 2A stakeholders meeting was held on 2 July 2025, with representatives from the school authorities, the design team and the Department and the project manager in attendance. The meeting concluded with a request for the design team to submit a stage 2A addendum report addressing issues raised by the Department at the meeting. That report was received recently and is currently being reviewed by the Department. Upon review of the report, the Department will advise all stakeholders regarding the further progression of the project.

In July, the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026 to 2030 under the national development plan. As part of this allocation, the Department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs.

The approach to rolling out large-scale projects and additional school accommodation scheme projects will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and to provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project roll-out over the course of the period 2026 to 2030 to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs. It is planned that circa 80 school building projects will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of a two-year rolling programme. Considering what the Senator has said, and as this is the only Gaelscoil in Sligo, it surely must be given priority.

Níl an freagra scríofa againn. We will get it for the Senator after the session.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht an fhreagra which contains positive news. We do not know if the school is included within the 80.

It says in the response that it will be.

That it will---

I cannot be certain, but we can certainly ask the Minister to clarify that.

That would be wonderful. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Mar a deir an seanfhocal, “Téann focal le gaoth ach téann buille le cnámh”.

I have just made a note to ask the Minister if we can get clarity on the 80 schools involved and if the school in question is included. I am sure there will be lots of competition to be in the 80, but this is the only Gaelscoil in the area. Of course, we know the demand for and the pressures to provide accommodation for children with additional needs. This is an inclusive school. Encompassing that in its plans puts its application head and shoulders above those from other schools in the context of the fact that it does so much for everybody within the local community.

Since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has invested over €6 billion in schools throughout the country under the NDP, involving the completion of over 1,300 school projects. In addition, over 200 SEN repurposing projects have been delivered, maximising the use of existing accommodation while creating opportunities for inclusion and integration. I might add that said inclusion should include the Irish language as well.

Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. Supplementary capital funding of €210 million, approved by the Government, has brought the total capital allocation for the Department of Education and Youth for this year to €1.6 billion.

All Departments are expected to publish their sectoral NDP implementation plans in November. The Department's plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity and progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money and meets functional needs.

Tá an freagra scríofa ag an Seanadóir anois.

I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this matter. Given that she is not based in the Department to which it relates, I really appreciate her being here.

I want to raise awareness of what I and others believe is an undeclared public health issue that needs to be made the subject of a legal and policy framework as a matter of urgency. Every day in Ireland, tens of thousands of people of all ages manage the risks of living with food allergies. The constant threat of accidental exposure shapes their choices about what they eat, where they go and even who they interact with intimately or socially. As people can imagine, children in particular are at huge risk of accidental exposure often simply because these allergies first present at a young age and also because children are usually at the mercy of what is being served to them by an adult, be that in school, on a play date or at a party.

In Ireland, the standard of care provided following a diagnosis of food allergy is generally limited to the strict avoidance of the allergens and a prescription for an auto-injector or an EpiPen to treat a serious reaction.

Before I address a better way forward, let me first point out the gaps in that particular model of care. Children often present with multiple allergies and so could find themselves having to avoid a long list of foods for the rest of their lives. Can the Minister of State imagine trying from now on to avoid, simultaneously, milk, eggs, nuts, kiwi fruit, sesame and raw vegetables? It would be virtually impossible to live a normal life. Now imagine being at school, playing sports, going to college or even dating someone who loves to eat ice cream. It is not sustainable and not fair, yet that is the case for thousands of children and teenagers in Ireland today.

Of course, parents bear the brunt of this frustration, worry and financial pressure. On Tuesday, I met one such parent. Her name is Ruth. She explained how her child minder quit following a near fatal incident involving one of her three children. All three of Ruth's daughters have severe food allergies and so not only did she and her husband give up working intermittently for five years to care for their girls, but they actually prepared food for every child, 20 children, in their daughters' crèche for five years just to make sure their daughters could attend a preschool programme.

Let me move on to the school-going age. There is no overarching policy for emergency medicine to support teachers in schools. The burden of responsibility is put on parents to train teachers and SNAs in the use of their child's EpiPen and also in recognising the onset of a reaction. That is an enormous burden on teachers who are not offered formal training. There is also a policy of no emergency kits in schools. If in a school there are ten children at risk of anaphylaxis due to food allergy, there are probably about 20 EpiPens knocking around the school. All 20 pens are on prescription, all have use-by dates and all have to be replaced at various intervals. The waste alone should by now have triggered a policy and a cross-departmental approach to that policy between the Department of Health and the Department of education. Not only that, but 88% of schools do not have a spare emergency medicine for undiagnosed pupils in their school. Imagine the irony of having 20 or 30 EpiPen in a school and finding that a previously undiagnosed child needs medicine. There is no policy in existence to administer an EpiPen in that instance, leaving the child involved in real danger.

We all remember Emma Sloan from Drimnagh in Dublin who died on O'Connell Street eight years ago after eating a meal containing nuts at a restaurant. She recognised the reaction she had, went to a pharmacy in the city centre but was denied an EpiPen and died. Publicly available emergency medicine kits at schools and public places makes sense. A similar programme has saved 11 lives in the UK since its introduction 18 months ago.

On a more positive note, I have met with a number of advocacy groups, parents and healthcare professionals recently. Even though the risk, danger and worry are what really stand out when we hear their stories, it is important to point out that a life full of limits does not have to be the only way forward. There is a life-changing treatment available. In fact, Ireland is at the forefront in delivering research and development in this area. Oral immunotherapy treatment involves the gradual introduction of increasing doses of an allergenic food to help build tolerance and reduce the severity of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. It is not a new treatment. Due to the data on both its safety and effectiveness, it is widely used across the world to treat allergies. Aside from one programme for under-fives in Cork, this treatment is not available in Ireland.

Parents are further adding to their financial strain by travelling to France and other countries to access care over a number of years at great personal cost. Of course, the vast majority of people cannot afford to do that. The treatments can run into tens of thousands of euro because a child needs to go every six months and that is for just one allergen. A child who has more than one allergen needs to go over and back for years and years. Costs include flights and accommodation because they need to stay for about a week each time.

Professor Jonathan Hourihane is a consultant paediatric allergist. He spoke at a briefing here in Leinster House which I hosted on Tuesday alongside a number of parents whose children have allergies. After the parents delivered third testimonials call, he stood up and said, "It is embarrassing to hear my own patients say the care they receive is lousy despite being global leaders in research in allergen and immunology treatment." As well as publicly available EpiPen kits, longer term progress must be advanced in terms of treatments like OIT so that children are not robbed of the joy of childhood and families can live a normal life safe from the ever-present danger of a life-threatening incident.

Will the Minister of State provide an indication for the timeframe to roll out OIT and where the Department stands? I know this matter is not within the Minister of State's remit, but I would be grateful if she could pass on the concerns of tens of thousands of people in Ireland living with these conditions and provide an update on where we are with OIT in Ireland.

The presentation on Tuesday, which I attended, very powerful. I congratulate the Senator on organising it.

I also congratulate the Senator. I am sorry that I was not in a position to attend on Tuesday. This is an issue I am not very familiar with.

The Senator has certainly presented a very strong case today. We all have issues to raise but the Senator has also provided solutions. We think of that girl on O'Connell Street, who knew what had happened to her and knew her symptoms, but, because of policy, the pharmacist was afraid to administer the EpiPen. It is awful.

I will be taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I thank Senator Ní Chuilinn for the opportunity to address the House on this important issue. More than one in four people in Europe suffer the effects of an allergy at some point in their lives, and it is particularly common in children. It is important to note that most allergic reactions are mild and can be kept under control. Severe reactions can occur, but these are rare. GPs can help to diagnose an allergy, and in the case of a mild allergy, they can offer advice and treatment to help to manage the condition. They may also refer to an allergy specialist for testing and treatment if the allergy is severe or the cause is not known.

The allergy team at CHI runs clinics out of CHI at Crumlin and Temple Street, as well as CHI at Connolly and Tallaght. The team deals with allergy prevention and diagnosis, along with treatment for allergy rhinitis, and drug, venom and vaccine allergies. The team aims to improve the quality of life for children with allergies and their carers to minimise the risk of allergy, promote food allergy prevention and provide Irish healthcare professionals with allergy educational resources. CHI has advised that there is currently no timeline for the rollout of oral immunotherapy services for the treatment of children living with allergies in Ireland.

That is not what the Senator wants to hear but, to be fair to her, she has started the campaign. I have no doubt that I and the Minister for Health will be here in front of her on many other occasions. This is how things get done: by starting a campaign to ensure there is a planned roll-out of treatment and care for young people.

In October 2015, the then Minister for Health signed the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2015 into effect. The regulations increase access to specified prescription-only medicines in an emergency, including adrenaline. This allows for the administration of adrenaline for known or suspected anaphylaxis to be administered by trained members of the public in emergency situations, without the need for a prescription. Of note, there is provision for organisations such as schools and workplaces to store these medications for administration by a trained person. The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland provides guidance on the implementation of this amendment for pharmacists, and the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council has established a course for the education and training of persons to safely and competently administer adrenaline in an emergency.

There is a responsibility to ensure that medications are stored and administered safely and appropriately. Those with a known risk of anaphylaxis should carefully follow their doctor’s guidance regarding carrying an EpiPen on the person. However, we know it is not always the case that people carry an EpiPen. As the Senator has rightly and eloquently outlined, emergencies do happen. These situations can occur because people do not know the allergies they have.

In 2024, pharmacists administered adrenaline in emergency situations on 365 occasions. Community pharmacies are among the most accessible and trusted healthcare providers in Ireland. The State recognises the importance of pharmacies being prepared to administer these medicines safely and effectively. This is reflected in the community pharmacy agreement 2025, which establishes an emergency medicine administration preparedness allowance that recognises that community pharmacists are authorised to administer emergency medicines. It is deeply sad that this did not happen in the case on O’Connell Street outlined by the Senator. This service is provided on an ad hoc basis, requiring pharmacists to be trained and ready to respond. The Minister for Health has agreed that an annual recurring allowance of €525 will be made available to community pharmacy contractors, commencing in 2026.

I am out of time. The Senator has a copy of the answer, which is comprehensive. As I said, it does not give the answer that the Senator wants. Nonetheless, I commend her on starting the campaign for the rollout of EpiPens. I will reflect her views, thoughts and suggestions to the Minister for Health following this debate.

I know the Minister of State was just handed the response, so she did really well. I note that this is the second time this has happened on my watch with a Department of Health matter. I call the Senator to respond.

I have the rest of the written response, which I will go through later. I want to reflect on some of what the Minister of State has said. It is really disappointing that there is no plan to roll out OIT in Ireland. The average cost per year for an allergy sufferer is €1,600; this has been worked out and many people have done research on it. The OIT cost would be €4,000 per year, but it would be finite and would only have to be done for a couple of years. The cost per year would disappear or be significantly reduced, so it makes sense to roll this out.

In relation to training people to use EpiPens, Professor Hourihane, who is one of the four allergists in Ireland, said it would take 20 minutes, so that is the kind of training that would be needed. Another group I met with said this could be done on Zoom with teachers on their Croke Park hours. It is the kind of common-sense stuff that can be done.

There are four allergists in Ireland for a population of 5.3 million. Finland, with a similar population of 5.6 million, has 100 allergists. We are just not prioritising this, although allergies are on the increase. We need to be a lot more proactive in how we deal with this and roll it out.

There is a very good team at CHI but it is very difficult to get access to food challenges, as I know from speaking to parents. When someone is diagnosed with an allergy by a GP, they are referred to that team. The person will then have to do a food challenge, where they are exposed to, say, a bit of a nut in order to see how they get on. It is very hard to get access to those, and people may actually need five or six different challenges, depending on what their allergies are. More joined-up thinking is definitely needed.

The Minister of State is right that it is the start of a campaign. I am disappointed to hear that OIT is not on the agenda. However, we could have more movement on the policy for publicly available EpiPens, from what I am hearing.

As I said, I will certainly reflect the Senator's thoughts and views to the Minister for Health. I will support her in any way I can. It is a common-sense approach to policy to protect the most vulnerable. As the Senator said, we have just four allergists for a population of our size. Unfortunately, this is on the increase. We know many people who are intolerant of various food products and ingredients, which can have fatal consequences, as the Senator outlined. I appreciate that the Senator is starting a campaign. I congratulate her on her audiovisual room presentation today. It had a powerful impact on everybody across the House who attended. As I said, I will reflect her views and thoughts to the Minister for Health after this debate.

It is important, when a Minister of State is on duty for Commencement matters, that the response is given to the Minister in a timely manner.

I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for taking this matter. Each week, I am contacted by the parent of a child awaiting a dental procedure or appointment. We know that, nationwide, waiting lists are starting to extend. Approximately 2,000 children have been waiting over four years for orthodontic treatment. I recognise that we now have an additional third level training facility in the new RCSI facility in Sandyford, which, when fully up and running, will produce an extra 75 graduate dentists in addition to those who are currently being trained in Trinity College and UCC.

I want to speak about alternative opportunities to increase the number of dentists in the country. Fifteen years ago, there were approximately 23% more dentists working with the HSE than there are today. While there were approximately 3,100 dentists registered and practising in 2019, and that figure has gone up to 3,888 in the last set of figures for private practice, we need to recruit more dentists into the system and the HSE.

One of the ideas in that area is that we allow dentists who have been trained overseas to work here. A lady who contacted me recently is a qualified dentist from Bolivia. She has an international qualification and worked there for many years as a dentist.

She is currently working here as a dental nurse. She told me one of the difficulties she has encountered is that it is taking so long for her to be allowed sit the exam. She would like the opportunity to sit the exam but because it only takes place in an 18- to 24-month application window, she is not in a position to do that. If we are serious about getting to grips with the long waiting lists we currently have in the HSE for dental care we have to look at taking on more internationally trained, recognised and qualified dentists and allowing them to sit the exam here to ensure they are coming with the highest quality standards people expect and deserve. While the RCSI's new college took its first set of students back in September it will take five years before we see qualified dentists coming through from that, so this is a mechanism we have to look at. I would be grateful for an update from the Department on whether it is possible to speed up the length of time between those international qualification recognition tests.

I thank the Senator for raising this really important question. He raises a much broader issue in terms of the number of dentists we have working in Ireland. Unfortunately, I have been at the end of those calls to the constituency office too. There are so many parents out there super keen to get their kids looked at by the primary care services dentist and we do not have the numbers we need at the moment. I will give the Senator the answer from the Department so he is fully informed. I hope it can be shared with him in full as well.

The Dentists Act 1985 established the Dental Council as the regulatory body for the dental profession in Ireland. As such, issues concerning the registration of dentists are a matter for the Dental Council to consider. For all applicants for full registration, bar those granted international protection, the key criteria in determining their registration pathway is the country where the applicant undertook their dental education. There are a number of different registration pathways including those for Irish graduates and graduates from countries with which we have reciprocal agreements, graduates from the EEA who are entitled to automatic recognition or assessment under the professional qualifications directive, graduates from the UK and of course graduates from non-EEA countries.

In addition to this, the Dental Council introduced a registration pathway for refugees in response to the EU Commission’s request to assess the qualifications from refugees from the war in Ukraine. This pathway includes a mentorship programme whereby refugee dentists can practice under the mentorship of an established registered dentist. To avail of this registration pathway, you must be a qualified dentist with current temporary protection or refugee status in Ireland. The Dental Council has opened this process to any refugee granted international protection in Ireland. For applicants who qualified outside of the EEA and do not have refugee status or temporary protection in Ireland the appropriate pathway to registration is the Dental Council examination. This is a two-part exam that takes place annually. Part 1 of the exam typically take place in March or April each year and part 2 typically takes place in June or July. The specific dates of part 1 and part 2 of the examination will be confirmed as soon as possible with candidates who have been awarded a place. For the 2026 sitting of the Dental Council exam, applications can be received at any time during the week of 12 to 16 January 2026.

The Dental Council is not currently planning to introduce an additional registration pathway or to change the existing pathways for non-EEA qualification holders. It is important to note the Dental Council examination is an assessment of suitability for registration to practice dentistry in Ireland where applicants have already undertaken a dental qualification in a non-EEA country and it is not an examination at the end of a course of study. It is a broad-spectrum assessment of a candidate’s competence at a point in time to safely practice dentistry in Ireland. The standard of the examination is designed to maintain the integrity of the register of dentists in the best interests of patients. The involvement of representatives from each of the dental schools in the design, delivery and management of the examination maintains the direct linkage between the standards underpinning the examination and the standards expected of dental graduates in Ireland.

I thank the Minister of State for her response. It is important to recognise this is about ensuring people across the country have access to the best possible dental care. As I highlighted earlier, I have concerns we are not training sufficient numbers of dentists and we are not taking on, through the HSE, sufficient numbers of dentists. We have to look at all possible options for children in particular, 2,000 of whom are waiting over four years for dental care. We need to take an all-encompassing approach that prioritises recruitment and while we wait for the RCSI to get up and running, we should see whether we can take on more dentists who have qualified abroad, while ensuring the recognition examination is to the highest possible standard.

I thank the Senator and accept his proposal. We need the numbers, we need the practitioners and we have to diversify and look more broadly at how we can recruit and ensure that even when we recruit dentists from other countries we maintain a practice that is of the same standard as that of the pathways in education here. I will reflect the Senator's thoughts, views and suggestions to the Minister for Health following this debate.