Call for introduction of dental tax credit for parents

June 8, 2026

FIANNA Fáil Senator Dee Ryan has called for the introduction of a €200 dental tax credit for parents to help cover the cost of routine dental treatment for children, saying many families who are now paying privately for care children should be receiving through the school dental system.

Her comments follow the publication of a report by the Oireachtas Health Committee on dental services, which found that in 2023 just half of eligible children nationwide received school dental screenings.

Senator Ryan said: “In Limerick, more than 8,500 children were due to receive school dental screenings in 2023, but only approximately 1,600 were actually seen. That means fewer than one in five eligible children received a check-up.”