John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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538. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he has considered addressing the disparity in benefits eligibility between individuals who have paid PRSI contributions at Class ‘D’ for the majority of their careers and those who have paid Class ‘A’ contributions for a shorter period; if any review is being conducted to ensure fairness in access to dental and optical benefits for long-term contributors under Class ‘D’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14212/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to 6 April 1995, civil and public servants did not have access to the full range of social insurance benefits as their terms of employment protected them against the main contingencies of illness and old age, and the risk of unemployment was not considered a factor due to the nature of their employment.

Civil and public sector employees recruited prior to 6 April 1995 pay social insurance contributions at modified rates under classes B, C and D. Amongst the class B contributors are permanent and pensionable civil servants and Gardaí; the class C contributors are commissioned army officers and members of the army nursing service; and the class D contributors include permanent and pensionable employees in the public service, other than those insured at classes B and C.

Consequently, such contributors pay less in social insurance contributions in return for fewer social insurance benefits. For example, class D contributors currently pay a contribution at the rate of 1% on their weekly earnings up to €1,443 and 4.1% on weekly earnings over that amount; their employers pay a contribution of 2.45% on all employee earnings. Class D contributors are currently entitled to widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension, guardian's payment (contributory), occupational injuries benefits, parent's benefit and carer's benefit. Modified contributors are not entitled to dental and optical benefits under the treatment benefit scheme.

In contrast, civil and public servants recruited from 6 April 1995 pay a higher social insurance contribution of 4.1% under PRSI class A on their weekly earnings; their employers pay a contribution of 8.9% where employees’ weekly earnings are €527 or less, and 11.15% where their employees’ weekly earnings exceed €527. Class A contributors have access to the full range of social insurance benefits.

To qualify for social insurance benefits, a person must meet the scheme's qualifying conditions, in particular, that they have paid a specific number of social insurance contributions at applicable PRSI classes within relevant tax years.

My Department keeps its schemes and supports under ongoing review. I have no plans at this time to change the current treatment benefit scheme rules to facilitate access by modified contributors. Any changes to the current position would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.