DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

THE OPTICAL CHARGES AND PAYMENTS (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2012

Notice is given that the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 62, 98, 106 and 107(6) of, and Schedule 15 to, the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 has made a statutory rule entitled the Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.

These Regulations further amend the Health and Personal Social Services (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 (“the principal Regulations”) which provide for payments to be made, by means of a voucher system, in respect of costs incurred by certain categories of persons in connection with the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.

Regulation 2 amends regulation 19 of the principal Regulations to increase the redemption value of a voucher issued towards the cost of replacement of a single contact lens and to increase the maximum contribution by way of a voucher to the cost of repair of a frame.

Regulation 3 and the Schedule amend the Schedules to the principal Regulations. Firstly, it omits paragraph 10 in Schedule 1; secondly the value of vouchers issued towards the costs of the supply and replacement of glasses and contact lenses is increased; thirdly, the additional values for vouchers for prisms, tints, photochromic lenses and special categories of appliances are increased; and fourthly, the value of vouchers issued towards the cost of the repair and replacement of optical appliances is increased.

Regulation 4 provides that the increases contained in regulation 2(a), 3 and 4 apply only in relation to vouchers accepted or used on or after 1st August 2012.

These Regulations come into operation on 1st August 2012. Copies of the Regulations S.R. 2012 No. 259 may be purchased from the Stationery Office at www.tsoshop.co.uk or by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0870 600 5522.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety