Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) scheme allows a person in receipt of an Invalidity Pension (IP) or Illness Benefit (IB) to enter employment or self-employment and continue to receive a partial or full payment. The amount of payment is set at 50%, 75% or 100% of their previous payment depending on the extent to which their condition is assessed to impair their capacity to work. A person assessed as Mild (25%) for PCB does not qualify for payment of PCB.

PCB has also been designed so that there are no restrictions or limits on earnings or on the number of hours a person can work. Furthermore, people on the PCB may return to IB or IP if they find that they cannot continue to work.

At the end of December 2023, there were 2,867 individuals in receipt of PCB. The category of payments are as follows:

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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374. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent of required social welfare contributions to qualify for ophthalmic benefit in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2352/24]

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 person concerned does not meet these criteria and, as a result, he does not satisfy the conditions for treatment benefit under the Department's PRSI scheme.

However, if the person concerned is the holder of a medical card he may have an entitlement to benefit under the HSE scheme. If this is the case, he should contact his local HSE office for advice on making a claim.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.