Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the credits paid in the UK for an Irish national (details supplied) should not count towards their treatment benefit and optical benefit in this case; if there is another way the person can avail of such treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56279/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Qualification for Treatment Benefit is based on satisfying certain PRSI conditions, including having paid the required total number of insurance contributions since first starting work, along with having the required number of contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year on which the claim is based.

A social insurance record in the EU or the UK can assist a person to qualify for treatment Benefit, provided they have paid PRSI at a relevant class (A, E, H, P or S) since returning to Ireland. Unfortunately, there is no record of any PRSI contributions having been paid by the person concerned, and therefore he does not qualify for Treatment Benefit.

If the person concerned has a Medical Card, he should contact his local HSE office which will advise on potential entitlement under their optical scheme.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.