Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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291. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he intends to revise the fee paid to optometrists under the PRSI benefit scheme; if so, the status of these plans; the timeline for its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18171/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Treatment Benefit is a PRSI-based scheme which provides free dental and optical services, along with assistance towards the provision of audiological appliances and hair replacement products, to people who satisfy certain qualifying conditions, and to their dependent spouses/partners.

The Department is committed to an annual review of the Treatment Benefit Optical scheme. The Department have consulted with the relevant representative body and are engaging with relevant stakeholders to bring the review to a conclusion.

The review is a priority for the Department.

On conclusion of the review, all panelists providing services under the scheme will be contacted.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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292. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is an age limit for the new baby grant concerning adoptive children; what the age limit is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18201/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16,17 and 18 if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves. Child Benefit becomes payable in respect of newborn babies in the month after their birth.

As part of Budget 2025, a new baby grant of €280 was introduced. This is paid to families of babies born on or after 1 December 2024 in addition to their regular first month’s Child Benefit payment of €140. It is a once-off payment paid to the qualified person, provided that person did not so qualify on a date later than one month after the birth or the date of placement of the qualified child.

It is important to note that, as the newborn baby grant is paid automatically with Child Benefit payments, there is no additional application for the grant, so parents and adoptive parents of new babies do not need to do anything extra to receive the grant.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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293. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the new income disregard for the carer’s allowance that will come into effect on July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18202/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is very aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role.

From July 2025, the weekly income disregard for Carer's Allowance will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner. This will make the scheme accessible to more people.

There have been a number of significant improvements made to the income thresholds in the means test for Carer’s Allowance in recent years. Since June 2022, there have been cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 for a single carer and €585 for a carer who is part of couple.

The Programme for Government has set out a timeline which commits to significantly further increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to gradually phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.

I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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294. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the homemaker’s scheme also covers households where parents are unmarried but a qualified cohabiting couple; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18203/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Homemakers Disregard Scheme was introduced in April 1994 for use in the Yearly Average (YA) calculation of the State Pension (Contributory). This allowed an applicant to apply under the Homemaker's Scheme for those years out of the workforce since April 1994 spent caring for children under age 12 or other dependent relatives to be disregarded in the calculation under the Yearly Average calculation method.

When the interim Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to establishing the rate of pay for the State Pension (Contributory) was launched in 2018, HomeCaring periods were introduced. Up to 20 years of HomeCaring periods can be considered and this includes periods prior to 1994.

Both the Homemakers scheme (for use in the YA method) and HomeCaring periods (for use in the TCA method) would only be applied once the qualifying criteria of 520 paid contributions have been met. Since 2024, those who have provided full time care for an Incapacitated dependent for 20 years or more can apply for Long-term Carers' Contributions (LTCC). These LTCCs can be used to satisfy the qualifying criteria of 520 contributions.

The civil status of the applicant is not considered when the Homemakers Disregard, HomeCaring Periods or Long-term Carers' Contributions are awarded. Eligibility is determined when the criteria for full time care of a child/children under 12 or for an incapacitated dependent is met by the person providing the care.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.