asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether in respect of treatment benefit any payment is made towards the cost of necessary ear examination or treatment in addition to cost of hearing aids or to the cost of repairs to hearing aids.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Treatment Benefits.
34.
The treatment benefit scheme administered by my Department provides in the case of qualified insured persons for payment of a subvention towards the cost of hearing aids and repairs thereto. It does not provide for any payment towards the cost of aural examination or treatment.
Could steps be taken by regulation to extend the payment of benefit in respect of aural examination having regard to the fact that the examination may be as costly as, or sometimes more costly than, treatment?
I do not appear to have that information available here.
35.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in respect of each of the last five years the number of persons who received treatment benefit in respect of (a) dental treatment and dentures, (b) spectacles, (c) contact lenses, (d) eye examination and (e) hearing aids.
The reply is in the form of a tabular statement, which I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
NUMBER of persons who received treatment benefit in respect of—
|
Year ended 31st March |
Dental treatment and dentures |
Spectacles |
Contact lenses |
Eye examination |
Hearing aids |
|
(a) |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
(e) |
|
|
1962 |
87,180 |
28,700 |
3 |
24,900 |
205 |
|
1963 |
83,693 |
32,900 |
2 |
26,600 |
274 |
|
1964 |
99,533 |
30,300 |
4 |
29,000 |
207 |
|
1965 |
105,937 |
38,000 |
Nil |
33,600 |
250 |
|
1966 |
119,557 |
37,700 |
9 |
32,400 |
245 |
NOTE: Figures in columns (b) and (d) are approximate.