Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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686. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to a reimbursement for their dental costs under the treatment benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17432/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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 for Treatment Benefit, the person concerned must have at least 260 paid contributions at class A/E/H/P/S since starting work and 39 paid or credited contributions in the relevant tax years, which in this case is 2023.

The person concerned qualifies for Treatment Benefit in 2025. Treatment Benefit is a prior approval scheme, and eligibility should be confirmed in advance of treatment.

The Department pays the full cost of an oral examination once a calendar year. In addition, an annual payment of €42 is provided towards either a scale and polish or a periodontal treatment (if clinically necessary).

If the cost of either cleaning or periodontal treatment is more than €42, the customer must pay the rest. This is capped at €15 for a scale and polish. There is no cap on the balance charged for periodontal treatment.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.