The Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Citation, commencement, interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and shall come into operation on 1st April 2009.

(2) In these Regulations “the principal Regulations” means the Health and Personal Social Services (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 (1).

Amendment of regulation 8 of the principal Regulations

2.  In regulation 8 of the principal Regulations (eligibility – supply of optical appliances)—

(a) in paragraph (3)(k)(ii)(2) for “£15,050” substitute “£15,276”;

(b) in paragraph (4)—

(i) after sub-paragraph (d) insert “and”;

(ii) for sub-paragraph (e)(3) substitute—

“(e) in sub-paragraph (o) “family” has the meaning given to it by regulation 2 of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008(4).”.

Amendment of regulation 19 of the principal Regulations

3.  In regulation 19 of the principal Regulations (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair)—

(a) in paragraph (1)(b) for “£51.90” substitute “£52.90”; and

(b) in paragraph (3) for “£13.40” substitute “£13.70”.

Amendment of the Schedules to the principal Regulations

4.—(1) In Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations (voucher letter codes and face values – supply and replacement) (5)—

(a) omit paragraph 10 (including columns 2 and 3 of that paragraph); and

(b) in column 3 (face value of voucher), for each amount specified in column 1 of the Table below (old amount) substitute the amount specified in relation to it in column 2 of that Table (new amount).

Table

Column 1 Old amount	Column 2 New amount
£35.50	£36.20
£54.00	£55.10
£79.00	£80.60
£178.40	£182.00
£61.40	£62.70
£78.10	£79.70
£101.20	£103.30
£196.10	£200.10
£182.70	£186.40

(2) In Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small and special glasses and complex appliances)—

(a) in paragraph 1(1)(a) (prism – single vision lens) for “11.60” substitute “11.80”;

(b) in paragraph 1(1)(b) (prism – other lens) for “£13.90” substitute “£14.20”;

(c) in paragraph 1(1)(c) (single vision tinted lens) for “£3.90” substitute “£4.00”;

(d) in paragraph 1(1)(d) (other tinted lens) for “£4.40” substitute “£4.50”;

(e) in paragraph 1(1)(e) (small glasses) —

(i) in sub–head (i) for “£58.50” substitute “£59.70”;

(ii) in sub–head (ii) for “£51.90” substitute “£52.90”; and

(iii) in sub–head (iii) for “£28.00” substitute “£28.60”;

(f) in paragraph 1(1)(g) (specially manufactured frames) for “£58.50” substitute “£59.70”;

(g) in paragraph 2(a) (minimum complex appliance payment – single vision lenses) for “£13.40”substitute “£13.70”; and

(h) in paragraph 2(b) (minimum complex appliance payment –other cases) for “£33.90” substitute “34.60”.

(3) For Schedule 3 to the principal Regulations (voucher value – repair) (6), substitute Schedule 3 as set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Application of Regulations 2(a), 3 and 4

5.  The amendments made in regulations 2(a), 3 and 4 apply only in relation to a voucher accepted or used pursuant to regulation 12 or regulation 17 of the principal Regulations on or after 1st April 2009.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 3rd April 2009.

Christine Jendoubi

A senior officer of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

The Department of Finance and Personnel hereby approves the foregoing regulations.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 3rd April 2009.

Jack Layberry

A senior officer of the Department of Finance and Personnel