Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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188. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will increase the grant for people who suffer hair loss due to illness to reflect the rising costs of materials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20032/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In general, medical or health related benefits fall within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. However, my Department administers the treatment benefit scheme which provides certain dental, optical, and medical appliances benefits to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. These treatments are also available to dependent spouses or partners, if applicable.

As part of Budget 2022, I announced an expansion to the range of services available under the medical appliances strand of the scheme. A new grant of up to €500 was provided from 28 May 2022 towards the cost of wigs and hairpieces for people who suffer from hair loss due to disease such as cancer and also a number of types of alopecia.

The types of alopecia covered are:

• alopecia areata (which includes alopecia totalis/universalis, diffuse alopecia areata, alopecia ophiasis),
• primary scarring alopecias (including cicatricial alopecia, frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris alopecia),
• chemotherapy induced alopecia (anagen effluvium),
• alopecia resulting from surgery or trauma, including burns.

My Department keeps schemes under regular review to make sure they meet their objectives. Any change in the level of payment available under the scheme would have to be considered in a policy and budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.