Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 October 2004
181 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has proposals for increasing the grant for hearing aids to allow persons to purchase the digital models which are more efficient, though more expensive than the outdated analogue models. [23366/04]
View answerThe treatment benefit scheme provides a range of benefits in the areas of dental, optical and aural treatment for qualified PRSI contributors and their dependent spouses. My Department pays up to half the cost of a hearing aid, subject to a maximum grant of €700. This grant was last increased from 1 January 2002 when it was doubled from €350 to its present level. This substantial increase was granted in cognisance of the availability of digital hearing aids.
There are no plans, at present, to change the current level of grant for hearing aids. Any changes to the level of grant would have financial implications and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
