Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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472. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if optical benefit is available for a person (details supplied) and their spouse through the Department of Health or her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7974/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In order to qualify for treatment benefit ( when aged over 66 years) a PRSI contributor must satisfy the conditions of having a total of 260 paid contributions at class A/E/H/P/S since starting work and 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax years.

The person concerned does not meet this criteria. Although he has the 260 required paid contributions, he does not have the 39 paid at the required contribution rate or credited contributions in any of the years 1999 to 2006, which are the relevant tax years on which the claim is based. As a result, he does not satisfy the conditions for treatment benefit under the Department's PRSI scheme.

However, if the person concerned is the holder of a medical card he may have an entitlement to treatment under the HSE scheme. If this is the case, he should contact his local HSE health office for advice on making a claim.

The spouse of the person concerned qualifies for treatment benefit under the Department’s PRSI scheme and has been approved for optical benefit.

I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.