Debate contribution: Dental Services: Asylum Seekers

Debate contribution by Mr Jonathan Buckley on 3 November 2025.

MLA: Mr Jonathan Buckley
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 3 November 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Dental Services: Asylum Seekers
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5213300

Text

Minister, dental practitioners and social workers have been in contact with me to raise concerns that a number of asylum-seeker patients, who, in their professional opinion, are most certainly adults, are presenting as children when accessing dental treatment in Northern Ireland. They feel unable to voice their concerns for fear of being branded far right or racist. I therefore ask the Minister whether he acknowledges that, if that is happening, it is of huge concern and presents wider child-safeguarding issues for social services and their use? Moreover, will the Minister commit to looking into the issue, which warrants serious investigation, and come back to the House on it?

108 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Topical question AQT 1723/22-27.

Assessment

Not analysed

This is the same MLA’s follow-up within the exchange on their own question. It is analysed together with that question and is not counted separately, so one question is never counted twice.

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