Irish Dental Association calls for cap on international dentistry students amid workforce crisis

Dentists are in short supply in Ireland, according to the Irish Dental Association. File photo

The Irish Dental Association (IDA) has called for a cap on the number of international students studying dentistry here after college entry was determined by lottery following high demand for places.

At a time when dentists are in short supply in Ireland, IDA chief executive Fintan Hourihan said almost 50% of places in Irish dentistry courses are being awarded to non-EEA students who are unlikely to remain in Ireland to practice upon graduation.