503. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a former Dublin Airport Authority employee (details supplied) has to wait two years for dental and optical benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50836/26]

The Treatment Benefit scheme provides dental, optical, aural services and hair replacement products to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.

In order to qualify a person needs to have at least 260 PRSI contributions paid at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year on which the claim is based.

My officials have reviewed the social insurance record of the person concerned and can confirm that they are not eligible for the Treatment Benefit scheme at present. Although they do satisfy the first condition of having a minimum of 260 reckonable contributions paid since first starting work, they do not have the required 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year, which is 2024 for claims made in 2026. The person concerned would similarly not have qualified for treatment in 2025 as they did not have the required contributions paid or credited in 2023 which was the relevant contribution year for claims made in 2025.

The person concerned recommenced paying a Class-S contribution in February 2026 and if this continues, they will qualify for Treatment Benefit in 2028, as the relevant contribution year will be 2026.