I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 18 together.
As my predecessor indicated to the House on 19 December last, the Government have decided, in the interests of better targeting of social welfare benefits, that from next April persons earning in excess of £25,000 per annum will not be entitled to treatment benefit. Under the dependent spouses scheme which came into operation in October 1987, a dependent spouse can qualify for treatment benefits only if the other partner qualifies. Consequently, a dependent spouse will not qualify where the other partner is earning in excess of £25,000 per annum.
The measure will not result in benefit being withdrawn as it will apply to new claims made after the beginning of April. It is estimated that the measure will result in about a 4 per cent or some 18,000 reduction in the approximate 450,000 treatment benefit payments made in a year.
In relation to the treatment of spouses, I am optimistic that the dispute between my Department and the Irish Dental Association which has interrupted the treatment of dependent spouses of qualified insured persons under the dental benefit scheme will be soon ended. I am happy to inform the House that a formal offer has been made to the association which I am confident will bring this long running dispute to an end and enable dependent spouses to be treated by all dentists participating in the scheme.
The settlement proposals comprise the introduction of a new dental contract for participating dentists and a revised and restructured schedule of fees for dental treatment carried out under the scheme. The new contract will more adequately reflect modern dental practice and I am satisfied that the revised schedule of fees will give dentists a fair and economic return for their professional services.
The Irish Dental Association will shortly be balloting their members on the settlement terms which, if accepted, will be implemented with effect from 1 July 1992. The new contract will come into operation as soon as it is signed by individual dentists.