Children under 16 are to be given free universal dental care as part of a new government initiative

As part of a new €80 million plan, Irish children under the age of 16 are to be given free universal dental care.

According to the Irish Independent, Health Minister Simon Harris will announce the five- year plan for comprehensive dental care for all children under 16 this week, and it is thought that under the scheme, parents will be able to bring children to the dentist for regular check-ups where fillings, extractions and any other dental surgery will be carried out free of charge.

Prescriptions related to dental procedures will also be free and the services will be provided by local dentists.

Currently, children in Ireland are entitled to two dental examinations while they are in primary school, while some emergency treatments are also covered by the State. Their first examination is supposed to be when they are seven years old, with a final check-up in sixth class.

But with a backlog of 84.000 children and adolescents stuch on waiting lists, the Irish Dental Association has previously warned that most children are not receiving their first examination until they are at least 12.

The Department of Health has been working on the plan for a number of years and it was signed off on by the Cabinet two weeks ago.

However, the scheme has not yet been negotiated with dentists, and the Government will have to reach an agreement on fees with dentists who sign up to the initiative before it can make a budget announcement.

It is hoped universal dental care will be extended to every child under six in next year’s Budget.

The Government reintroduced dental benefits in the 2018 Budget. The State now pays €42 toward either a scale and polish or – if clinically necessary – periodontal treatment to PRSI workers or the self-employed once a year.