New facilities include a dental hospital library, seminar rooms and materials for science labs

The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, cut the ribbon on new education facilities at Dublin University Hospital in December.

The new facilities include space for the Dental Hospital Library, additional seminar rooms for teaching, a new materials science laboratory and academic staff offices. At the opening ceremony Ms Coughlan said: “I would like to thank the board for its work in delivering this wonderful facility, which will underpin significant teaching and academic activity. I am also pleased to get this chance to tell the non-executive appointees on the board, who give so generously of their time without any remuneration, that their work is much appreciated.”

Dublin Dental University Hospital is the only hospital in Ireland to cater for all careers in dentistry, including dental technician, hygienist and nursing. It also provides ongoing continuing professional development courses and clinical training for dental students from Trinity College.

The hospital currently trains 40 dental students in each of the five years of the university course as well as 20 post-graduate students undertaking specialist dental degrees. There are also 20 students under-taking masters and postdoctoral degrees in subjects ranging from oral candida and the biocompatibility of dental materials to MRSA and translational research in novel disinfectant systems.