John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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534. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a grant will be awarded in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [13704/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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To qualify for Medical Appliance Benefit, a person aged 66 or over, must have paid a total of 260 contributions at Class A,E,H or P since first starting work, and either:

- 39 paid or credited PRSI contributions in either of the relevant tax years on which the claim is based; or

- 26 paid PRSI contributions in both the relevant tax year and the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.

According to Department records, the person concerned has never paid qualifying PRSI contributions and therefore does not meet the qualifying conditions for this scheme. Neither does the person concerned qualify under her spouse’s PRSI record.

Hearing aids are available, subject to certain conditions under the medical card scheme, enquiries in this regard should be made to the persons nearest HSE office.