Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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98. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that benefited from the optical benefits component of the treatment benefits scheme operated by her Department in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5307/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical and aural services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependant spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.

In order to qualify a person needs to have at least 260 PRSI contributions paid at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year on which the claim is based.

The number of claims for optical benefit in the period requested are detailed below:

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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99. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) while born abroad and is now an Irish citizen with a full employment record, was asked to provide documentation submitted to the Garda National Immigration Bureau while applying for paternity benefit given that their contribution record would be on file with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59978/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Paternity Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed people who are on paternity leave from work who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. It is paid for two weeks and is available in respect of any child born or adopted on or after 1 September 2016. Paternity Benefit is paid at €250 per week - the same rate as Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit and Parent’s Benefit.

In order that the Department can ensure that a customer meets the PRSI conditions, non-EEA customers are always requested to furnish a copy of their present Certificate of Registration (GNIB Card).

This is required as part of the check in regard to the person's right to work in Ireland.

In addition to having a valid GNIB at commencement of claim, it is necessary to ensure that the customer had a valid work permit / GNIB registration for the relevant tax year. This ensures that all earnings and contributions in the relevant tax year are valid and that an accurate decision is reached for the claim.

In this case, the person concerned had their nationality recorded on departmental systems as American at the time of making the claim and no documentation was submitted at the time of the claim to indicate otherwise.

Documentation was requested by the Department in order to ensure the validity of the customer’s PRSI record, at which time the customer provided an Irish passport. The customer’s nationality was then updated for future reference, and their claim awarded.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.