Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Oct 2002

Vol. 556 No. 2

Written Answers. - Family Support Services.

John Cregan

Ceist:

159 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation regarding assistance for parents not covered by medical cards of secondary school children needing optical services and spectacles; and if the PPS scheme can be extended to give such children cover. [19683/02]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

I assume the Deputy's question refers to the optical benefit scheme provided to qualified insured persons and their dependent spouses

under the PRSI scheme operated by my Department. Under this scheme, the qualified claimant can get, free of charge, an eye examination together with a pair of spectacles from a limited range of frames. Where a more expensive frame is chosen, my Department pays a fixed contribution with the claimant paying the balance. There are no plans to extend the optical benefit scheme to include the dependent children.

I understand from my colleague the Minister for Health and Children that under the Health Act, 1970, optical care is available to national school children and children who are dependants of medical card holders. Where a defect is identified as a result of an examination carried out in accordance with these arrangements the health boards continue to provide treatment until the child reaches 16 years of age.