Michael Bell
Ceist:435 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, as a result of Social Welfare regulations introduced by him which require 13 paid contributions, thousands of social welfare recipients on long term social welfare benefits will not qualify for dental/optical benefits and their spouses will also be debarred from benefit; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that as health boards have no funding for these treatment benefits, the old, the sick and the handicapped will have no availability for treatment benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.