Debate contribution: HSC Dentistry: East Antrim
Debate contribution by Mr Robbie Butler on .
- MLA
- Mr Robbie Butler
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 12 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- HSC Dentistry: East Antrim
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5786278
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for her question. I can comfortably say that that formed the biggest part of my conversation with departmental officials and my analysis of the risks that we still face. I see access to NHS dentistry as a goal that we should all try to attain. As the Member rightly pointed out, across the health suite — and across life, unfortunately — social disadvantage can be a cruel determinant for young people, particularly children. My Department has committed an additional investment of £8 million in general dentist services in 2026-27. That is to provide support to health service dentistry across Northern Ireland. The investment is intended to improve access by supporting the sustainability and capacity of general dental practice. Measures include enhanced fees for key treatments, increased activity payments to directly support practitioners who continue to provide health service dentistry and investment in workforce measures to support service provision in the medium term. Taken together, those actions are intended to improve the resilience of general dental services and to support access for patients. The Help with Health Costs scheme provides assistance with the cost of health service dental treatments, helping to ensure that financial circumstances do not act as a barrier to accessing necessary dental care. I look forward to working with the Member in the coming years to ensure that there are no such barriers.
229 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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