Vol. 537 No. 5
336 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has considered the introduction of a special tax incentive scheme, following consultation with the Department of Finance, to allow the families of disabled children obtain therapy for their condition outside the State; if he will consider extending this to include therapy which cannot be obtained in this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16846/01]
I have not considered the introduction of a special tax incentive scheme in respect of therapy outside the State for children with disabilities nor have I discussed any such scheme with my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy. As it is not clear from the Deputy's question what the parameters of the scheme he has in mind would be and the type of therapy which he would envisage it would cover, I am unable to make any further comments on it at this point. My Department's general view, however, in relation to programmes provided in other countries is that, instead of sending children abroad at considerable expense, investment should be made in the services here in Ireland, incorporating, where appropriate, the elements of best practice from those services.
As the Deputy will be aware, a significant level of investment has been made in the health related support services for children with disabilities in recent years and the Government is committed to the ongoing development of the support services required by these children and their families.
