Deputy Erin McGreehan has been told that despite extensive advertising, there have been no applications for the vacant Consultant Orthodonist and Specialist Orthodinist posts in the Louth.

Deputy McGreehan had asked the Minister for Health, Helen McEntee, in a parliamentary question, what action had been taken to fill the posts.

She further wanted to know if people in urgent need of care can avail of an alternative appointment, or the national purchase scheme.

In a reply, the local TD was told that the HSE had been requested to communicate directly with her on the matter. Also outlined was the measures already undertaken by the HSE to resolve the staffing deficit for the vacant posts.

Advertisements had been placed on the HSE website and Public Jobs.ie, and in the British Dental Journal and the Belfast Telegraph. Agencies and relevant Universities in Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK had been contacted, but there were no applications.

That was in 2024; in March of this year agencies on and off the framework were reached out, but again there was no-one keen to fill the posts.

Two other Community Healthcare areas were also contacted to ascertain if resources from these areas could be used to the staffing challenges in the county; but because they were working at full capacity, the problem couldn’t be rersolved.

In relation to her query regarding on patients being able to avail of alternative services, Deputy McGreehan was told that in 2024, Primary Care funded 40 patients in critical need to have their treatment completed were transferred to private practice in Northern Ireland.

Then from May 2024 to April of this year, a specialist Orthodontist based in Longford to Navan and Dundalk providing approximately 1-2 days per month for debonds and interrupted to care patients in Louth.

It was also explained that the National Treatments Purscahe Scheme does not apply to community orthodontic service.

Speaking last week, Deputy McGreehan said she had been contacted by a number of people with dental issues. Some were suffering acute discomfort, and were badly in need of care.

“My aim is to sit down with the HSE and see what can be done to ease the situation. It’s disappointing there have been no applications for the vacant posts. If people are suffering, care will have to be provided for them.”   

For further information, reach out to Erin McGreehan.

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