Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
282. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount of funding allocated and paid by his Department under wig grant or hair replacement support schemes (including payments under the treatment benefit scheme or any other relevant schemes) in each of the past five years; and the number of recipients in each year, broken down by county, in tabular form. [27592/26]
View answerIn general, medical or health related benefits fall within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. However, the Department of Social Protection administers the Treatment Benefit Scheme which provides dental, optical, and medical appliance benefits to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. These treatments are also available to their dependent spouse or partner, if applicable.
The hair replacement benefit scheme, introduced in 2022 is an annual benefit of up to €500 available to persons who satisfy the medical requirements and the PRSI conditions of the Department’s Treatment Benefit scheme.
The payment assists people who have suffered hair loss due to a disease or treatment of a disease such as cancer or certain types of alopecia to purchase a hair replacement product (HRP).
Total claims and expenditure under the HRP Scheme 2022-2025:
|
Year |
No of claims per year |
Expenditure per year |
|
2025 |
4,960 |
€ 2,441,994.61 |
|
2024 |
4,555 |
€ 2,245,689.88 |
|
2023 |
3,288 |
€ 1,617,325.35 |
|
2022 |
1,396 |
€ 688,992.90 |
Number of recipients broken down by county 2022-2025:
|
Resident County |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Totals |
|
Carlow |
15 |
45 |
83 |
142 |
285 |
|
Cavan |
15 |
47 |
43 |
59 |
164 |
|
Clare |
26 |
53 |
65 |
80 |
224 |
|
Cork |
96 |
261 |
296 |
372 |
1,025 |
|
Donegal |
29 |
86 |
206 |
176 |
497 |
|
Dublin |
438 |
1,005 |
1,343 |
1,577 |
4,363 |
|
Galway |
66 |
175 |
269 |
247 |
757 |
|
Kerry |
30 |
93 |
92 |
127 |
342 |
|
Kildare |
116 |
237 |
299 |
303 |
955 |
|
Kilkenny |
30 |
62 |
106 |
129 |
327 |
|
Laois |
21 |
44 |
78 |
85 |
228 |
|
Leitrim |
16 |
43 |
40 |
44 |
143 |
|
Limerick |
49 |
127 |
127 |
157 |
460 |
|
Longford |
20 |
28 |
43 |
49 |
140 |
|
Louth |
53 |
131 |
149 |
155 |
488 |
|
Mayo |
38 |
116 |
171 |
177 |
502 |
|
Meath |
71 |
147 |
198 |
193 |
609 |
|
Monaghan |
13 |
38 |
45 |
52 |
148 |
|
Offaly |
31 |
50 |
62 |
53 |
196 |
|
Roscommon |
33 |
54 |
76 |
80 |
243 |
|
Sligo |
16 |
59 |
65 |
78 |
218 |
|
Tipperary |
62 |
117 |
198 |
197 |
574 |
|
Waterford |
17 |
53 |
80 |
72 |
222 |
|
Westmeath |
25 |
43 |
85 |
71 |
224 |
|
Wexford |
32 |
66 |
113 |
96 |
307 |
|
Wicklow |
45 |
84 |
125 |
157 |
411 |
|
|
1,403 |
3,264 |
4,457 |
4,928 |
14,052 |
*Please note any discrepancies between the “total claims figures” and the breakdown by county are as a result of administrative adjustments such as products being returned and claims withdrawn.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
