Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A person can obtain relief if he or she visits a physiotherapist but only if he or she is referred by a GP. If we believe - I am using the word "we" loosely - relief should be available for a visit to a physiotherapist, we should not put barriers in seeking it. The Minister has acknowledged that no one is going to self-refer to a physiotherapist and pay 80% of the cost in order to get 20% back. If we believe the health outcome of a visit to a physiotherapist is a public good, why put that barrier in place? I am not suggesting the Minister is not living in the real world. If someone presents with a sports or similar injur, a GP will refer him or her to a physiotherapist but will charge a fee of €50 to do so. That is the problem and it creates a barrier to access. A lot of people will not visit a GP. They will go straight to their physiotherapist. They know their own body and know that they need treatment.

We have to start from a principled point of view. All we are doing is creating a barrier. There are very legitimate reasons to create barriers in availing of tax reliefs. However, I do not know how someone could scam the system, unless he or she was the son or daughter of the physiotherapist and it would have to be a big family to make it worth the money. I do not understand it. Deputy Michael McGrath is looking for a report on the matter. That suggestion should be given active consideration. What is the breakdown of the figure the Minister has presented for the cost of this relief? What portion is accounted for by physiotherapists? Does Revenue have that information or does it combine all of the figures included in the Med 1 claim forms?