James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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986. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to examine a case where a person (details supplied) is not eligible for optical benefit, despite having worked in Ireland for the past 40 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37442/23]

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, which is currently 2021.

Although the person concerned has the 260 required paid contributions, he does not have the 39 paid at the relevant rate, or credited contributions in 2021. As a result, he does not satisfy the conditions for optical benefit under the Department's PRSI scheme.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.