From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020–2025 aims to reduce the number of people in consistent poverty in Ireland and to increase social inclusion for those who are most disadvantaged. Commitment 57 is to “Review operation of the Treatment Benefit Scheme and consider options to improve its impact in reducing deprivation and poverty”.
This report fulfils that commitment. It reviews the operation of the Treatment Benefit Scheme; health policy in Ireland; and people at risk of poverty in Ireland. Groups at risk of poverty are analysed. The report concludes that most people at risk of poverty have access to health care through medical cards. The report identifies some options for the future development of the scheme, but there is limited scope for the Treatment Benefit Scheme to target people at risk of poverty and deprivation.
The report looks at definitions of poverty and analyses those cohorts at risk of poverty in Ireland in relation to income, employment status, and entitlement to Treatment Benefit. It also considers the question of extending coverage to the children of qualified parents.
The report recommended reducing the number of contributions required for young people aged 25–28 to be eligible for Treatment Benefit – this was announced in Budget 2022 and will be implemented from May 2022.
