Guaranteed funding is essential if a new plan launched by the Irish Government to provide free treatment to under 16s is going to work. This is according to the Irish Dental Association.

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The plan, called Smile agus Sláinte, is due to be phased in from this year until 2026 and was launched by the Republic's Department of Health. It aims to provide preventative oral health services to children up to 16 and medical card holders.

Under the policy there would be a package of free services including dental exams, assessments, prevention interventions and emergency care. Smile agus Sláinte will also review the education and training of dentists, maintain water fluoridation schemes and promote oral health, the department said.

The Irish Dental Association said the plan would not work unless it was properly funded and claimed €1 billion had been cut from oral health programmes over the last decade.