Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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62. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is eligible for a hearing aid grant under the treatment benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21132/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In order to qualify for a hearing aid grant under the treatment benefit scheme a person is required to have 260 reckonable contributions paid since commencing employment and also have at least 39 such contributions paid or credited in the governing tax year relevant to the claim, which is currently 2013. PRSI paid at class A, E, H, or P count towards qualification for treatment benefits.

As the person concerned does not have any reckonable contributions at Class A, E, H, or P recorded, he does not qualify for a hearing aid grant under the treatment benefit scheme. However, if he has a Medical Card he should contact his local HSE Office, who will advise him of the options available to him under their scheme.