I propose to take Questions Nos. 709 to 712, inclusive, together.
Qualification for treatment benefit (TB), which includes dental, optical and medical appliances (hearing aids), is based on the person having paid the required number of PRSI contributions since starting employment and also having the required number of contributions or credits in the relevant tax year. The number of contributions required to qualify varies with age.
Dependent spouse/partners of qualified persons can also qualify for the benefit.
It is estimated that 2.5m people currently pay or have paid the relevant PRSI classes that can qualify them and their dependent spouse for TB.
Applications for dental benefit in 2018 as a percentage of those potentially qualified were circa 32%.
The table below shows the number of TB applications processed, under each of the benefits (dental, optical and hearing aids), along with the amount paid in respect of these benefits in 2018:
Scheme
|
Number of applications awarded
|
Expenditure
|
Dental
|
804,375
|
€46.91m
|
Optical
|
451,249
|
€32.72m
|
Medical Appliance (hearing aids)
|
14,689
|
€12.74m
|
Total
|
1,270,313
|
€93.38m
|