Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I am answering this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. The objective for all of us, as public representatives, is at all times to ensure that a person who holds a medical card gets seen to.

The treatment benefit scheme provides dental, optical and medical appliances, comprising hearing aids and specialised contract lenses, to insured workers, self-employed and retired people who satisfy certain PRSI conditions. A person must have paid a specific number of PRSI contributions in the relevant tax year to qualify for treatment benefit. It is also available to the dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of those who qualify. People can avail of a range of treatment either free or part-funded.

Two significant changes to the scheme were introduced by the Government this year. A new grant of €500 towards the cost of wigs and other non-surgical hairpieces was introduced for those who have suffered hair loss due to a cancer or certain types of alopecia, with nearly 900 claims paid since the scheme was introduced in May. The eligibility criteria have changed to reduce the PRSI contributions to people aged 25 to 28, which will benefit almost 80,000 young people.

The treatment benefit dental scheme provides for a free annual dental examination and an annual scale and polish treatment subject to a maximum co-payment by the customer of €15. The scheme is very popular, with 893,000 claims in 2021 at a cost of €53 million. Figures up to the end of September of this year show that 843,000 treatments were claimed which is a 10% increase on claims so far in 2022. Dentists can check a customer's eligibility online and make a claim for payment through the Department's welfare partners interface. Each month dentists are paid for treatments claimed in the previous month.

Currently the Department pays the dentist a fee of €33 for an examination and €42 towards the cost of cleaning and other treatments. Departmental officials have commenced a review of the fees and part of the process involves examining the current contract to ensure it is fit for purpose and that any changes necessary are put in place. A consultation with the relevant bodies, including the Irish Dental Association, will be undertaken as soon as practicable following consideration of the complexities involved in developing a new contract. Officials hope to be in a position to commence this engagement in the near future.

The Department is aware of the HSE contract with the dentists and will ensure that any new contracts will be mindful of the objective of the national oral health policy. A review of fees in the dental benefit scheme is a priority for the Department and the Department wants to resolve it positively and in a timely manner.

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