Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

366. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if hearing aids are covered for a person (details supplied) given they have a full medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12536/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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

Eligibility for a hearing aid grant under the Department's Treatment Benefit scheme is based on the person satisfying certain PRSI conditions. In order to qualify the person concerned would need to have paid 260 PRSI contributions at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the tax years on which the claim is based.

Although the person concerned has the 260 required paid contributions, they do not have the required 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax years, which in this case is any year between 1999 and 2006. As a result, the person concerned does not satisfy the conditions for a hearing aid grant under the Department's PRSI scheme.

However as they have a medical card they could avail of the HSE scheme, details of which can be obtained from their local HSE office.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.