Childcare may become allowable expense for means testing
Health Minister Mary Harney has confirmed that she is examining plans to allow families write off childcare costs when being assessed for a medical card.
Under the plans, childcare costs would be added to other existing allowable expenses, such as mortgage and rent, when calculating an applicant's income.
Ms Harney is expected to make a decision on whether to press ahead with the measure in the next week or so.
Asked about the matter this morning, she said: "What I want to do is to ensure that it's the disposable income of the family that's used as the income measure rather than the gross income.
"It would make it clearer to people whether they qualify or they don't and, if they have particular medical expenses or whatever from time to time, all of that will be factored into the application process."
