Push on for more dental training places in Cork

Work is ongoing to increase dental training places in Cork despite the scrapping of plans for a new dental school and hospital, the minister for health has said.

Social Democrats TD for Cork South Central Pádraig Rice asked the minister in the Dáil her plans to increase capacity at University College Cork’s Dental School following the decision not to build a new dental school.

Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said that officials in her department are continuing to collaborate with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an expansion of dental training places in UCC.

“As part of this engagement, my department has received a strong proposal from UCC requesting €4.7m in capital funding to establish a new dental community-based training facility in Cork. 

"This would enable the training of additional undergraduate students in a primary care setting, benefiting both Irish and EU students,” she said.

“While the proposal is promising, it currently delivers limited increases in domestic student places. Discussions are currently ongoing between my department and the Department of Further and Higher Education to further maximise the benefits this proposal will bring with a view to expanding Irish and EU places to help meet the required oral healthcare workforce capacity in Ireland.”

Ms Carroll MacNeill added: “My department proactively engaged with UCC across 2024 regarding the construction of a new dental school and hospital in Cork. Several options were considered and my department offered €25m in capital funding to assist in fitting out a new dental school and hospital estimated to cost in excess of €74m.

“A decision was made by UCC not to proceed with the new dental school and hospital, but instead to refurbish the existing Cork University Dental School and Hospital, and to develop a new primary care dental facility in Cork. This refurbishment, at a total cost of €15m, is being co-funded by my Department and UCC.

“Work is ongoing through the appropriate processes to explore all options to support UCC to deliver on its remit regarding education and healthcare service provision.”