Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will increase the value given towards standard prescription spectacles for medical card holders who avail of optical and ophthalmic services from private practitioners; when this amount was last increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14679/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The ophthalmic scheme operated by the Health Service Executive, under Section 67 of the Health Act 1970, provides for a sight test and spectacles, free of charge, once every two years for adult medical card holders and dependants not covered by the relevant child health service. The scheme does not provide for the payment of a contribution towards the cost of spectacles. The schedule of fees payable, to practitioners, in respect of this scheme are reviewed annually and were last increased in July 2006.