Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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388. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to indicate the degree to which dental benefit is available through the GMS system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46743/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Following consultation with the Deputy's office it is understood that the question seeks the description of the dental benefits available under both my Department’s Treatment Benefit scheme and under my colleague the Minister’s for Health’s GMS system. For information relating to the GMS system, I would ask the Deputy to forward his query to my colleague the Minister for Health.

As regards my Department's Treatment Benefit scheme, this a social insurance based scheme which provides free dental and optical services, and assistance towards the provision of audiological appliances and hair replacement products, to people who satisfy certain qualifying conditions, and to their dependent spouses/partners.

Under dental services, my department pays the full cost of an oral examination once a calendar year.

In addition, a payment of €42 is provided towards either:

• a scale and polish
• a periodontal treatment (if clinically necessary)