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.

Under the Medical Appliances scheme, a qualified person can claim two hearing aids, costing up to 500 euro each, every four calendar years. The number of customers who availed of hearing aids under the Medical Appliances scheme in the last 3 years is as follows:

Year	Claims
2019	14,657
2020	13,548
2021	21,817

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.