School dental scheme failing children

Thousands miss their check-ups, some are waiting years for care

The precarious state of the school dental programme is highlighted in an Irish Examiner investigation which shows thousands of schoolchildren missing out on vital dental check-ups, unacceptably long waiting lists, and a service rife with staff vacancies.

The scheme is supposed to deliver free dental check-ups and associated treatments to schoolchildren to coincide with key dental development stages, but up to 70 vacancies across the service means children are missing out.