Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 191: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the cost of a hearing device will be covered in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14321/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The medical appliance benefit scheme offers assistance towards the cost of a hearing aid. The Department will pay up to half the cost of a hearing aid or repairs to a hearing aid, subject to a fixed maximum contribution of €760 per aid.

To qualify for medical appliance benefit an individual must satisfy certain PRSI conditions. A person aged 66 or over must have a total of 260 paid PRSI contributions since first starting work and either:

(i) 39 paid or credited PRSI contributions in the relevant tax year on which the claim is based, or

(ii) 26 paid PRSI contributions in both the relevant tax year and the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.

An individual who satisfies the PRSI conditions at age 60 will remain qualified for life.

The Department's records indicate that the person concerned has a total PRSI contribution of 258, which is 2 short of the 260 required, and consequently he would not qualify for medical appliance benefit on his Irish insurance record alone.

However, in further correspondence with the Department the stated that he worked in the UK between 1956 and 1961. The Department has therefore contacted the UK authorities to confirm this information. On receipt of the reply, the claim for medical appliance benefit will be decided and the person will be notified.