Shortage of dental hygienists must be tackled with more college places – Scahill & Boyle

Increased pressure on dental practices could be alleviated if additional college places were made available for dental hygienists, two Fine Gael Senators have said.

Senator Gareth Scahill and Senator Manus Boyle have raised a commencement matter in the Seanad calling on the Minister for Further and Higher Education to address the lack of places available for dental training.

Senator Boyle referred to a constituent working in a dental practice who had been turned down for a place on a Dental Hygienist Course in UCC for the 3^rd time and who now must travel overseas to study.

Senator Scahill said that the lack of dentists’ services available to Medical Card holders could be dealt with if places on Dental Hygienist courses were expanded, adding that hygienists also alleviate the pressure on dentists in a busy practice.

Senator Boyle explained: “To become a dental hygienist in Ireland, you must complete a two-year Level 7 Diploma—offered only in Trinity College Dublin (8 places annually) and University College Cork (12 places Annually). Between both institutions, just 20 places are available each year—a number that hasn’t increased in over two decades, despite Ireland’s growing population and oral health needs.

“Limited training options at home are driving some students abroad, where they’re offered broader career paths like becoming dental therapists.”

Senator Scahill continued: “Once qualified, dental hygienists must register with the Dental Council of Ireland. There are only around 600 registered hygienists, and we don’t even know how many are actively working. We’re facing a dental workforce crisis—not just for dentists, but also for hygienists. At the recent Irish Dental Association conference, dentists repeatedly shared their struggle to hire hygienists across the country.

“Fine Gael under the then Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris increased the number of third level places available in healthcare courses, including therapy places to support disability services. There is a clear pressure on dental practices. We need to see a pipeline of delivery for dental therapists and increasing college places for hygienists can make a tangible impact quickly, ensuring Ireland’s oral health doesn’t deteriorate”.