Nora Owen
Question:121 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to introduce tax relief on the provision of childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20897/98]
Written Answers - Tax Reliefs.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government's policy programme, An Action Programme for the Millennium, contains a number of commitments with regard to support both for families and also childcare.
With regard to childcare, in my budget speech last December I said:
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.
In considering these matters in the context of the forthcoming budget, I intend to take into account the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Family, published in May of this year, and any findings that emerge from the other working groups mentioned above in the run-up to the budget.