Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will extend the terms of the dental and optical treatment benefit scheme to cover children of qualifying parents. [38602/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The treatment benefit scheme operated by my Department provides a range of benefits in the areas of dental, optical and aural treatment for qualified PRSI contributors who are over 16 years of age and their dependent spouses. In budget 2006, an alternative condition of 26 paid contributions was introduced which reduces the previous requirement from 39 paid contributions allowing an extra 37,817 customers to retain eligibility. The availability of these benefits are subject to certain other PRSI contribution conditions. The PRSI contribution classes which qualify for treatment benefit are A, E, H and P. There are no plans to extend the treatment benefit scheme to include dependent children.

I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, that under the Health Act 1970, optical and dental care is available to all national school children and children who are dependants of medical card holders. Where a defect is identified as a result of an examination carried out in accordance with these arrangements, the Health Service Executive continue to provide treatment until the child reaches 16 years of age.