OFFICIALS FROM the Scottish Executive and Dundee University are due to meet this week in a bid to resolve the over- subscription crisis at the city’s dental school.

With courses getting under way, the two sides remain deadlocked over a problem which has led to students being offered cash to defer their places for a year.

The situation has arisen after a surge in demand for dental school places led to a rise in applications for this academic year of 40% —and a course acceptance jump of 30%.

The result was that would-be students were offered £2000 to delay the start of their course by a year—at a time when the NHS is in need of more dentists.

Officials and ministers found themselves at a standstill in their efforts to resolve the difficulties last week, with the Executive issuing strongly-worded criticism of the university over a “situation of their own making.”

In response, principal Sir Alan Langlands said the university was committed to “ensuring that educational standards and the student experience will not be compromised”.

The SNP’s health spokeswoman, Dundee East MSP Shona Robison, claimed last night that the situation needs to be resolved this week.

And, despite admitting to not knowing how much money would be involved, she called on ministers to provide funds for “a bit of breathing room”.

“I am calling for some sense to prevail and for a resolution to be thrashed out. The students can’t wait any longer, the course is starting and they need to know what they are doing.

“The Executive really needs to come up with additional funding to help the dental school cope with the 30 extra people.

“That would give them a year or so to sort out the extra clinical placements, which mostly start in year two.”