Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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171. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed regarding access to eye care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4959/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My department operates two schemes which provide assistance, to qualified PRSI contributors and their dependent spouse/partners, with the provision of optical services and equipment. The optical benefit scheme provides for a free eye examination and assistance with the provision of a range of spectacles and contact lenses for vision correction every 2 years. The medical appliances benefit scheme provides a grant towards the purchase of contact lenses every 4 years when certified as being required for medical reasons.

The person concerned has availed of both the optical benefit and the medical appliance benefit schemes in recent years.

In 2017 she obtained contact lenses under the medical appliance scheme and in 2018 distance single vision spectacles were provided under the optical benefit scheme. In 2019 an eye examination was provided under the optical benefit scheme and in recent months both an eye exam and distance single vision spectacles were provided under the optical benefit scheme.

As the person concerned last availed of contact lenses under the medical appliances scheme in 2017 she will be eligible again in 2021 for contact lenses under this scheme if medically required.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.