asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether the administration of dental and other treatment benefits should be transferred to the Department of Health as recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare.
Written Answers. - Dental Benefits.
5.
The social insurance treatment benefits scheme, including dental and optical benefit, is a scheme specifically for people who are insured under the social insurance system and their dependent spouses. Entitlement to treatment benefits is subject to the payment of social insurance contributions under the PRSI system administered by my Department and treatments are provided by dentists and opticians under contract to me. As the scheme is a social insurance scheme with entitlement determined by PRSI contributions I consider that the most effective way to administer it is under the Department of Social Welfare as at present.
The Department of Health have responsibility for dental and opthalmic services as part of their overall responsibility for health services generally. A range of treatments is provided under the health services to persons with entitlement to medical cards. However, there are fundamental differences between these arrangements and the treatment benefits scheme. I consider that the treatment benefits scheme is of very significant benefit to insured persons and their dependent spouses. The scheme is administered in an efficient and effective way at present and I do not see any advantage to be gained in present circumstances in transferring the scheme to the Department of Health.