Dental and Optical Benefit Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 May 2012

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Ceisteanna (232)

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

312 Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection the reduction on fees paid to dentists and opticians since 2009 under the treatment benefit scheme; the annual saving realised from those measures; the specific itemised fees currently paid to dentists and opticians under this scheme; if she will provide a sum total of the annual amount of fees paid under each item; the amount in total that was spent in 2011; the expected spend in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24157/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton)

The Dental and Optical Benefit schemes have been limited to the provision of free dental and optical examinations since 1 January 2010. Treatments previously covered under the schemes, such as fillings, extractions, spectacles and lenses, have not been paid on claims approved on or after that date. The current treatments, associated fees and the total 2011 cost in each instance are detailed:

Treatment	Current Fee	Cost in 2011
Dental Examination	€33.00	€8.99 million
Ophthalmic Examination	€22.51	€2.85 million
Ophthalmic Exam (with dilation)	€45.02	€195,000
Medical Eye Exam (single)	€25.55	€920
Medical Eye Exam (double)	€51.10	€239,600

The total annual fees and savings are detailed below (2009, as the last year before the schemes were reduced, is used as the reference point):

Scheme	2009 Spend	2011 Spend	Saving
Dental	€62.28 million	€9.15 million	€53.13 million
Optical	€16.99 million	€3.29 million	€13.7 million
Total	€79.27 million	€12.44 million	€66.83 million

The projected spend on the Dental benefit scheme in 2012 is approximately €8.5 million, with €3.4 million expected to be spent on the optical scheme.