Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Jun 1998

Vol. 491 No. 6

Written Answers. - Family Support Services.

Seán Haughey

Question:

155 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce tax relief at the standard rate on up to £2,000 initially; if so, when he will introduce it as recognition for married people who stay at home to care for their children and who do not get State benefit other than child benefit; if this will be payable as a refund directly to the person at home, having regard to the Commission on the Family report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12740/98]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The Government's policy programme, "An Action Programme for the Millennium, contains a number of commitments in relation to support for families and childcare.

In the context of these commitments I said in my budget speech last December that "it is not possible to introduce all the new measures one would wish in a single budget. I have examined carefully the possibility of a tax relief on childcare at the standard rate of tax but have decided not to proceed with it this year. I will review the situation for my next budget in the light of the reports due next year from the working group on childcare set up under Partnership 2000 and from the household review group and the Commission on the Family set up by the previous Government." The report of the Commission on the Family was published recently and when the reports of the other groups become available later this year, I will be in a position to give the issue more informed consideration in the context of next year's budget.