Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:155. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31341/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 15 June 2022
Ceisteanna (155)
Freagraí scríofa
In Budget 2022, I introduced a new measure to provide a grant of up to €500 a year for eligible individuals towards the cost of non-surgical hair replacement including wigs. The grant has been available since 28 May 2022 under the Treatment Benefit scheme.
The Treatment Benefit Scheme is a social insurance scheme funded through the Social Insurance Fund and administered by the Department of Social Protection. Eligibility is based on age and social insurance contributions. These conditions are set out on our gov.ie website and in a range of publications.
The hair replacement grant introduced on 28 May 2022 is an expansion of the range of services provided under the Medical Appliances strand of the Treatment Benefit scheme. The grant is subject to medical eligibility requirements in addition to the general eligibility requirements. It is available to people suffering from hair loss due to a disease or treatment of a disease including cancer and some forms of alopecia.
The qualifying medical conditions and treatments are outlined in regulations are set out in Statutory Instrument No. 259 of 2022, following input from medical officials in my Department's Medical Review and Assessment Section. Alopecia trichotillomania is not a qualifying condition for this grant.
The types of alopecia that qualify are: (i) alopecia areata (which includes alopecia totalis/universalis, diffuse alopecia areata, alopecia ophiasis), (ii) primary scarring alopecias (including cicatricial alopecia, frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris, or scarring alopecia), (iii) chemotherapy induced alopecia (anagen effluvium), (iv) alopecia resulting from surgery or trauma, including burns. The grant does not cover hair loss resulting from any of the following: alopecia that is age related, genetic in nature or otherwise considered to be natural hair loss, of the type commonly called androgenic alopecia, or telogen effluvium, traction alopecia or trichotillomania.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.