Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

93. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the dental benefits a person in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit can avail of; whether his Department plans to expand the range of free dental services that carers can avail of, such as the services available under the dental treatment services scheme recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50716/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In general, medical or health related benefits fall within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. However, my Department administers the treatment benefit scheme which provides certain dental, optical, and medical appliances benefits to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. These treatments are also available to their dependent spouse or partner, if applicable.

Eligibility for treatment benefit is based on age and social insurance contributions. Social insurance contributions made under PRSI classes A, E, H, P and S count towards the treatment benefit scheme. Similar to any other individual, people in receipt of carer's allowance or carer's benefit are entitled to treatment benefit scheme, once they meet the scheme's contribution qualifying conditions. The qualifying contribution criteria for the scheme can be found on gov.ie.

Under the dental benefit element of the scheme, my Department pays the full cost of an oral examination once per calendar year. My Department also makes a payment of €42 towards a scale and polish or - if clinically necessary – protracted periodontal treatment, once a calendar year. If the cost of either cleaning or periodontal treatment is more than €42, the person must pay the balance, which is capped at €15 for a scale and polish. There is no cap on the balance charged for periodontal treatment.

At present I have no plans to expand the dental services available under the treatment benefit scheme. However, my Department keeps its schemes and supports under review to make sure they continue to meet their objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.