Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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644. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the plans to extend the treatment purchase scheme (hair replacement) to cover more than the five types of alopecia currently on the scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61717/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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.

The hair replacement grant was introduced in 2022 as an expansion to the range of services available under the medical appliances element of the scheme. A grant of up to €500, in each calendar year, is available towards the cost of wigs and hairpieces for people who suffer from hair loss as a direct result of an illness, treatment for an illness such as cancer and also a number of types of alopecia.

People with certain types of alopecia that are diagnosed as an illness can access this grant. Other hair loss conditions that are due to ageing or other natural causes do not qualify for the scheme. Based on advice from medical officials in my Department, the types of alopecia covered are:

• alopecia areata (which includes alopecia totalis/universalis, diffuse alopecia areata, alopecia ophiasis),
• primary scarring alopecias (including cicatricial alopecia, frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris alopecia),
• chemotherapy induced alopecia (anagen effluvium),
• alopecia resulting from surgery or trauma, including burns.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.