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.
Dental science at Trinity College Dublin attracted CAO cut-off points of 625 this year, the maximum points available. Places were determined by random selection. Almost 1,000 applicants were competing through the CAO for 32 places.
At University College Cork (UCC), overall applications for dentistry increased by 18% on last year, with first preferences for the programme increasing by 9%. Entry to the course this year was also determined by random selection, and cut-off points this round were set at 613*, which would require a student to receive 5 H1 grades as well as a H2 in higher level maths.
As previously reported, the number of college training places for dentists has remained the same for almost three decades despite a major recruitment crisis and severe backlogs in parts of the country.
Universities usually rely on the fees generated by international students. The Irish Universities Association previously estimated that the international student market is worth more than €385 million per year.
Fintan Hourihan said the use of the lottery system to award places this year was "yet another example of the frustratingly inadequate number of training places available to CAO applicants, despite a very positive high level of interest".
"It is clear that we need both a substantial increase in training places available nationally, and a cap of 20% on non-EEA students in order to address the workforce crisis impacting the dental sector. It is not just a matter of fairness for prospective students, it is a case of addressing the urgent public health needs inherent to oral healthcare."
Earlier in the year, the IDA warned that there is now “a clear divide” between people who can afford private dentistry and those facing delays in public care. Children and adults with disabilities waiting for care under general anesthesia face delays of two years or more, including in areas across Munster.
Dental screening in schools was also missed by almost half the children eligible due to a critical shortage of dentists.
On Wednesday, the Central Applications Office (CAO) issued 86,098 Round One Offers to 59,201 CAO applicants. In total, 80% of the Level 8 offers issued this week through the CAO are for one of students’ top three preferences.
Data released by the CAO shows that entry to 25 courses was determined by random selection.
The points requirements rose at 502 degree courses (47.8%) and fell for 403 courses (38.4%) this year after exam authorities took the first steps towards addressing pandemic-era Leaving Cert grade inflation.
Students have until 3pm on Tuesday, September 2, to accept their offers. Round Two will be issued to students on September 8.
