Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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413. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the payment changes made to the treatment benefit scheme, from 2021 to date in 2025. [26696/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Treatment Benefit is a PRSI-based scheme which provides free dental and optical services, and 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 following payment changes were made from 2021 to date in 2025, for persons who satisfy the medical requirements and the PRSI conditions of the scheme.

Medical Appliances - Hearing Aids

In 2021, legislation in relation to medical appliance benefit for hearing aids was amended. Prior to this amendment, the Department paid 50% of the cost of hearing aids up to a maximum of €500 per aid per ear. From April 2021, the Department contributes up to €500 per aid, per ear, once every 4 years.

This Regulation removed the requirement for the customer to pay 50% of the full cost of the medical appliance. As a result of this change, if the cost exceeds the maximum grant of €500 only the remainder is paid by the customer.

Medical-Contact Lenses

A payment of up to €1,000 can be claimed towards the cost of a pair of medical contact lenses (€500 for each contact lens). From 2022, an amendment to the frequency of payment of the grant was reduced from once every 4 years to once every 2 years.

Hair Replacement Grant

From May 2022, an annual hair replacement benefit of up to €500 was introduced. This payment assists people who have suffered hair loss due to the treatment of a disease (cancer) or certain types of alopecia to purchase a hair replacement product.

Qualifying Conditions

Up to 2022, those aged 25-28 years old had to be in employment for 5 years (totaling 260 contributions) to qualify for Treatment Benefit. In April 2022, the number of PRSI contributions required to access treatment benefits was reduced for this cohort from 260 to 39.

Dental Examination Fee

From January 2024, the fee paid to a dentist for providing an Oral examination (including x-ray) was increased from €33 to €40, available once per calendar year.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.