Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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565. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason carer's contributions for a person (details supplied) do not count towards contributions in order to avail of dental treatment benefit. [46848/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Qualification for dental benefit is based on satisfying certain PRSI conditions. In this case, the person concerned would need to have paid 260 PRSI contributions at Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 qualifying contributions paid at the correct rate, or credited, in the relevant tax years on which the claim is based.

While the person concerned has more than the necessary 260 PRSI contributions paid in total since starting work, they do not have 39 contributions paid or credited in any year between 2014 and 2016, the relevant tax years on which the entitlement would be based.

The person concerned is not entitled to credits on her carers allowance claim of 14th March 2013 as she did not have any paid or credited contributions from 1995 to 2012. A minimum of 26 paid contributions are needed prior to the award of carers allowance. In this case, only 11 contributions were paid before the person concerned went onto carers allowance in 2013. Accordingly, they do not qualify for dental benefit at this time.

If the person concerned has a Medical Card, they should contact their local HSE office, who will be able to advise on entitlement under the HSE dental scheme.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.