Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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1248.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was refused a grant for hearing aids; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31291/24]

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

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 qualify for treatment benefit as they have no paid or credited PRSI contributions in the relevant year(s) on which the claim is based.

If the person concerned has a current Medical Card, they should contact their local HSE office which will advise on entitlements under the HSE scheme.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.